Though the New York Rangers didn';t make any significant acquisitions this
summer, Tuesday';s trade that brought back a soon-to-be 32-year-old defenseman
who played only 38 games last season and is hardly guaranteed consistent
playing time in 2018-19, had fans taking notice.

In fact, their reaction was likely similar to one they might have had regarding
 the July re-signing of an aging enforcer who';s hardly guaranteed consistent
playing time next season.

The deal that brought hulking blueliner Adam McQuaid from the Boston Bruins for
 depth defenseman Steven Kampfer, a fourth-round draft pick in 2019 and a
conditional seventh-round pick, probably doesn';t move the needle much on this
rebuilding team';s prospects. McQuaid, who has 13 goals and 53 assists in 462
career games over his nine seasons, suffered a broken right fibula in October
and recorded only a goal and three assists in 2017-18.

The reason for the eyebrow raising? The 6-foot-4, 212-pound McQuaid is first
and foremost a physical force, a player known for clearing out the crease and
being one of the best pugilists in the NHL, rather than for any elite skating
or offensive skill. And that, of course, marks a major departure from the Alain
 Vigneault era.Adam McQuaid with the Bruins (Photo by Bob Fina/Inside Hockey)

It';s difficult to envision AV doing anything other than turning up his nose at
 such an acquisition. By the end of his five-year tenure, Vigneault was all-in
on skill, with little or no physical element to be found in his regular lineup
and no interest in changing. A player like McQuaid would likely have been a
tall observer of the season had Vigneault returned for this season.

Yet, the adding of McQuaid might provide another hint about both the preferred
style of new coach David Quinn, as well as a continuing acknowledgment by team
management that AV';s approach ultimately became flawed - a conclusion for
which plenty of evidence has built up over the last several seasons, in the
form of the Rangers being knocked around and injured on a regular basis.

"We want to be a fast, physical, relentless hockey team,'' Quinn said
Thursday, with training camp set to begin.Rangers Prioritizing Toughness
by Adding McQuaid

Make no mistake - McQuaid isn';t part of the future on Broadway. In fact, he
might not make it past the trade deadline if he proves to be healthy and
effective again. Even if he beats out some of the youngsters vying for spots on
 the right side of the defense, he';d probably be ticketed for regular
third-pair duty, barring a rash of injuries.

But, the presence of the type of rugged defenseman that';s hardly been seen at
Madison Square Garden in the past five years, combined with the surprising
one-year re-upping of veteran enforcer Cody McLeod, seems to indicate that
Quinn isn';t interested in turning the other cheek. And that management grew
tired of Vigneault';s teams having that turned cheek often hit by opponents,
whether those Rangers were ordered to stand down from scrums or not.

Again, McQuaid and McLeod - and rugged forward Matt Beleskey, McQuaid';s Bruins
 teammate for the last few seasons who';s also around and could challenge for a
 spot - aren';t what they were. They';re still going to be expected to bring a
physical element and defend teammates. None of them are going to skate away
from fights, and that';s probably what';s expected of them as the front office
looks to put the style of the previous era in the past.Rangers coach David
Quinn with Boston University (Photo by Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox/Getty
Images)

McQuaid, McLeod and Beleskey are stopgap players to support the Blueshirts';
rebuild, and they';ll be used as much or little as needed. But, their presence
suggests that a grittier, edgier team is the vision for the future, which seems
 to confirm that Quinn';s style will be considerably more in-your-face than
Vigneault';s was at the end of a forgettable 2017-18.

Physicality remains an important part of hockey, even if its impact has been
substantially diminished in a changed league. The Rangers should know this,
given their own successes over the past seven years. Recall that Brandon Prust,
 Mike Rupp and Stu Bickel set the nasty tone for the best edition of the Black
and Blueshirts in 2011-12, while Derek Dorsett, Brian Boyle, Daniel Carcillo
and Tanner Glass did the honors for the powerful 2013-14 and 2014-15 teams.

Vigneault coached those last two squads, but even if he had forgotten that
element of those clubs that made the Stanley Cup Final and Eastern Conference
Final, respectively, the front office apparently hasn';t. The Rangers were
interested in bringing Vegas Golden Knights tough guy Ryan Reaves in during
the offseason, a sentiment which wasn';t mutual, as Reaves re-signed with the
surprise Western Conference champions.McQuaid Adds Leadership, Experience to Go
 With Grit

Perhaps that led to general manager Jeff Gorton pivoting to McQuaid, who brings
 more than toughness with his leadership abilities and experience that should
add some stability to the youthful defense corps. His intimidating presence,
however, shouldn';t be understated as a major reason why he';s now in New York.
 Other than Reaves, an argument can be made that McQuaid represents perhaps the
 least desirable fight for opponents around the league.

"I';ll try and be a steady presence and be physical when the opportunity is
there ... at the same time, hopefully I can be a good example for guys off the
ice," McQuaid said. "I';ve been around a little while, so hopefully bring some
experience. I don';t know my way around the city or way around the locker room
too much just yet, but again, hopefully there will be different ways I can help
 the younger guys."Adam McQuaid (54) congratulates goalie Tuukka Rask (40)
(Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports)

An argument can also be made that a player that stands up for teammates lifts
morale and consequently, improves team chemistry. One of McQuaid';s ex-Bruins
teammates certainly thought so.

"It's a tough day," Brad Marchand said of the trade. "It's difficult losing
Quaider, who has been an incredible teammate for a long time. When you look
around the room, you want guys like him. He's just an incredible guy off the
ice, and in the room. He's a great friend, and as a teammate he'd do anything
for the team and for each individual player."

A Stanley Cup champion with Boston in his rookie season of 2010-11, the trade
of McQuaid and his $2.75 million salary for next season helped the Bruins clean
 up their cap situation, somewhat. The Rangers are hoping Boston';s need to
part with McQuaid benefits them now and into the future, perhaps setting a new
tone for Quinn';s young bunch of Blueshirts.

The post McQuaid Fits Rangers'; Gritty New Style appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

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