Former Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid is now carving out a successful career for himself in their front office. The club announced today that he’s been promoted to a director of player development role, among a few other minor hockey ops hirings and promotions.
It’s a new role in the organization, so McQuaid will presumably be taking some work off an assistant GM’s plate. Boston didn’t have a particularly large player development department – it consisted of McQuaid, their lone dedicated skater development coach and coordinator since his hiring in 2021, and longtime NHL netminder Mike Dunham as their goalie development coach.
While a reward for McQuaid’s work so far, the title change is also a signifier for Boston’s organizational repositioning from contender to retooler. The club was a big seller at last year’s trade deadline and added center James Hagens – their top prospect since selecting Charlie McAvoy nearly a decade ago – with the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft.
The Bruins are also bringing up Nick Neary from their AHL staff to join the big club. The 30-year-old joined the Providence Bruins in 2020 as a video coordinator before being promoted to the club’s video coach and manager of hockey operations prior to last season. He’ll now serve on the NHL staff as an assistant video coordinator under Mathew Myers, who’s been Boston’s video coach since 2019. Replacing Neary in Providence is Cam Wolbach, who lands his first documented hockey staffing job. He played high school hockey in Massachusetts as well as ACHA Division II hockey with Bentley University.
Joining McQuaid in Boston’s player development department is former NHL forward Ben Smith, who’s been brought on under McQuaid as a player development coordinator. It doubles as a retirement announcement for the 37-year-old, who had been playing in Germany since heading overseas in 2018. He suited up for Boston College but never played for the Bruins. Smith won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2013 and recorded 54 points in 237 NHL games for them, the Maple Leafs, Sharks, and Avalanche.
“Boston didn’t have a particularly large player development department…” On a similar subject, anyone know why that team seems to have imploded?
Maybe being a top contender for 10 yrs – meaning your trading quite a few picks and prospects to try winning.
Look at all the other contenders at the moment and see how many top 5 and top 10 picks they have to build that team.
If Boston would have dropped to the bottom for a 5-8 yr period they’d have that too.
But also the one yr of missed drafting was 2015.
The Bruins continue to employ the cultish practice of hiring former players who are beyond underqualified. And the results are about what you’d expect.
What are McQuaid’s qualifications..I assume you have his resume.
I made a valid point, It’s all on record , The Bruins are the oldest USA entry in the league, 6 cups, And one in the last 53 years, Clearly their cultish alumni approach to management hires, Isn’t working.
And,Yes, McQuad has ZERO management experience at any, And all hockey levels.
It’s fantastic to see Ben Smith back stateside. I loved watching him with the Hawks, he always worked hard in his role here. I wish him nothing but the very best in this exciting new chapter of his career.