Two things that all Bruins fans should find alarming...

[Colt.45Orr]

McQuaid is a depth defenseman. If he's injured, they have to add someone who is otherwise not good enough to be in the lineup.

However, this doesn't make McQuaid anything more than what he is. A 5-6 defenseman that is physical. To make it anything more than that is like giving full credit to passenger 32b for a safe flight from NY to LA.

And physical (read: punishing), crease-clearing, shot blocking Dmen who raise their game in the playoffs are very, very valuable and (not easily replaced despite what many of you "but look at this other guy that is faaaaster!!!" posters think).


But, yes, he's not the pilot, or copilot... but he sure as hell isn't a passenger either; he is more like one of the mechanics who receive no credit but help make sure the machine keeps running.

 

[Colt.45Orr]

The B's lost to the Habs in the second round in 14. They beat the wings in round 1, without Quaider.

Good catch. That Wings series was such a formality that I completely forgot about it; all I can remember now from it was Smith pretending that he would have been willing to fight Chara. So, we have won 1 series since 2010 without McQuaid. Well, that's better than none --thanks!

 

[SPV]

nice post. very interesting. Since witnessing McAvoy firsthand, I'm hoping the Bruins protect McQuaid, or even Kevan Miller and expose Colin Miller instead.

 

[DKH]

Great post - McQuaid can play for my team

 

[Fonzerelli]

Great post Colt, and great points.

There needs to a third party organization, equally representing both the NHLPA and the NHL, that handles Officiating Accountability, Player Safety and Player Suspensions.

Having the NHL regulate itself and determine it's own punishments will always stink of agenda and favoritism

 

[Bruinfanatic]

And physical (read: punishing), crease-clearing, shot blocking Dmen who raise their game in the playoffs are very, very valuable and (not easily replaced despite what many of you "but look at this other guy that is faaaaster!!!" posters think).


But, yes, he's not the pilot, or copilot... but he sure as hell isn't a passenger either; he is more like one of the mechanics who receive no credit but help make sure the machine keeps running.

Very good post describes him perfectly.

 

[Ladyfan]

Great post - McQuaid can play for my team

^ simple but to the point.

Love Quaider

 

[Colt.45Orr]

nice post. very interesting. Since witnessing McAvoy firsthand, I'm hoping the Bruins protect McQuaid, or even Kevan Miller and expose Colin Miller instead.

Yeah, I don't see much of a trade market for "Chiller", to be honest. If Carlo and McAvoy are your top 2 RH Dmen for the next decade+, where does that leave C.Miller? I want my 3rd pairing guy to be able to log heavy PK minutes, clear a crease and take the body. All of C. Miller's PP time (and more) go to McAvoy, so Miller's minutes and value go down further next year.

My concern with McQuaid is... is this last "Upper Body" injury a concussion and, if so, what # is that for him? 6? 8?

K. Miller is playing much better lately but has the shoulder injury history.

If I'm Vegas, I'm picking what is left for me between McQuaid and Killer while C. Miller is my 3rd option... unless Morrow makes a name for himself in these playoffs, of course! ha!

 

[patty59]

Great post Colt, and great points.

There needs to a third party organization, equally representing both the NHLPA and the NHL, that handles Officiating Accountability, Player Safety and Player Suspensions.

Having the NHL regulate itself and determine it's own punishments will always stink of agenda and favoritism

The officials do get reprimanded, we just never hear about it. The get fined and lose assignments. If a refferee misses out on playoffs it's a lot of money they lose as well.

 

[Ladyfan]

And physical (read: punishing), crease-clearing, shot blocking Dmen who raise their game in the playoffs are very, very valuable and (not easily replaced despite what many of you "but look at this other guy that is faaaaster!!!" posters think).


But, yes, he's not the pilot, or copilot... but he sure as hell isn't a passenger either; he is more like one of the mechanics who receive no credit but help make sure the machine keeps running.

^this is good stuff

Great thread !

 

[Colt.45Orr]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...l--nhl-ref-and-object-of-scorn-171058557.html

3. I’ve often talked about the “cloud of incompetence” that follows Peel around, and he confirmed something I’ve suspected about that: Since he’s a veteran official in the NHL, he’s tasked with mentoring younger referees, who often make mistakes. They happen in his games, so he gets the blame. And we’re all like “why does this weirdness always affect Tim Peel games?”

 

[duffy]

1st part fine but 2nd part....

Bruins d line is depleted and that's why we are losing imo... Ottawa just a better team right now

Agree with the D being slightly below stellar but, the reason for the losses are STUPID penalties at the absolute worst time!
Watch any game from the regular season and it was the same doofus penalties at the worst time by the same doofuses!
Our D men except for the 19 yr old can't make a tape to tape pass to save their lives and our Captain and the other 2 D men who handle the puck like a live grenade LOVE to shoot the puck over the glass. That penalty and a too many men penalty are almost guaranteed each game.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Like McQuaid, like Killer, but they are pretty much the same player. Next year with McAvoy and Carlo taking up the Top 4 RH spots, you can't carry them both.

McQuaid is more physical than Killer, but Kevan is a better skater. Neither are as durable as I would like for the roles they play. For that reason, you need to have a proven 7 in the bullpen.

If it's me, my D next year looks like this:

Chara/McAvoy
Krug/Carlo
O'Gara/Killer
Chiller

I think McQuaid goes in the Expansion draft. Killer is a year younger, has 3 years on his deal (McQ has 2) and makes a little less. If the B's decide they like McQuaid's intangibles better, then Killer gets exposed.

 

[Colt.45Orr]

Agree with the D being slightly below stellar but, the reason for the losses are STUPID penalties at the absolute worst time!
Watch any game from the regular season and it was the same doofus penalties at the worst time by the same doofuses!

In his NHL career (56 playoff games), McQuaid has only take 10 minor penalties in the playoffs! (Some of those penalties were matching). That is insanely good --he is usually our most physical player and, for example, in the 7 game series against Montreal in 2011, he didn't have a single PIM. His PIMs-per-game drop way down in the playoffs from the regular season.

K. Miller has 5 minor penalties in only 14 career playoff games.

Chara (took too long to look over game logs) averages 1.3 PIMS per Game in the playoffs and takes a heck of a lot of minor penalties.

 

[bb_fan]

K. Miller is clearly a better player then McQuaid. Love Darth but he is just too injury prone

clearly not.