Adam McQuaid announces retirement after 10 seasons

Former Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid has retired from the NHL after 10 seasons, he confirmed to CBC's Shane Ross.

"I am beyond fortunate to have been able to play as long as I did and to have the experiences that I did," McQuaid said to Ross in a phone interview. "I don't look back on my situation and think, 'Oh, things got cut short ... or poor me,' by any means."

The bruising defenseman spent nine seasons with Boston and split time between the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2018-19 campaign. McQuaid hasn't played the last two seasons due to a neck injury he suffered in March 2019.

The 34-year-old played a key role on the Bruins' Stanley Cup-winning team in 2011 and had been a staple on Boston's blue line for years.

"Those Stanley Cup runs, the atmosphere, coming to the rink and that'll be something no matter what I do I'll never be able to replicate the energy and the intensity of those games and those moments and those experiences," McQuaid said. "I've got a smile on my face right now thinking about having got to experience those."

The Prince Edward Island native finishes his career with 512 games played, 16 goals, and 57 assists. McQuaid also racked up 694 penalty minutes and a plus-minus rating of plus-62.

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