Brad May

Not to be confused with Brad Mays.
Brad May
Born (1971-11-29) November 29, 1971
Toronto, ON, CAN
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 213 lb (97 kg; 15 st 3 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Vancouver Canucks
Phoenix Coyotes
Colorado Avalanche
Anaheim Ducks
Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 14th overall, 1990
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 1991–2010
Website BradMay.ca
Medal record
Competitor for  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
1996 Vienna
World Junior Championships
1991 Saskatchewan

Bradley Scott May (born November 29, 1971) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). In the 2006–07 season he won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. He currently works with the Buffalo Sabres broadcast team and as an NHL analyst with Rogers Sportsnet. May was born in Toronto, Ontario, but grew up in Markham, Ontario.

Playing career

May was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres, 14th overall, in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. While not a prolific scorer, May contributed to Sabres history in his second full season with the team. In Game 4 of the opening round of the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Boston Bruins, the teams were tied at 5 and required overtime to decide a winner. May took a pass from a falling Pat LaFontaine at center ice, deked past Ray Bourque, then went on goal where he faked out Andy Moog, which caused him to fall and leave an open space for May to score on a wrist shot. The goal not only won the game but secured Buffalo's upset of the second-best team in the NHL. The goal is referred to informally as the "Mayday goal", thanks to the following call from Sabres voice Rick Jeanneret:

“ Here's May coming in on goal, he shoots, he scoooooores! Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Brad May! Wins it in overtime! Buffalo sweeps the Bruins! ”

He was later traded by the Sabres to the Vancouver Canucks for forward Geoff Sanderson on February 5, 1998.[1]

After sitting out during the 2004–05 NHL Lockout, May signed with the Colorado Avalanche as an unrestricted free agent for two years on August 20, 2005. May's signing caused much conjecture and debate in Colorado due to his role played in the previous season's Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore incident as a Vancouver Canuck.[2] He was later traded on February 27, 2007 to the Anaheim Ducks for goaltender Michael Wall.[3] The Ducks went on to win the Stanley Cup that year, and May had his name engraved on the Cup for the first time in his career.

On July 4, 2007, May re-signed as a free agent with Anaheim for a further two years.[4] In the 2007–08 season, May played his 900th career NHL game on November 16, 2007 and scoring his 125th career goal as the Ducks beat the Los Angeles Kings 6-3.[5] May was selected during the year to ride on Anaheim city's float at the 2008 Rose Bowl Parade to accompany and parade the Stanley Cup.[6]

During the 2008–09 season on January 7, 2009, May was traded from the Ducks to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a conditional 6th round draft pick in 2010.[7] On April 8, 2009 May played in his 1,000th career NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres.[8] It was no coincidence that the milestone came against the Buffalo Sabres, as he was purposely sat out for the previous game.[9]

On September 23, 2009, May was invited to try out for the Detroit Red Wings, reuniting temporarily with former Vancouver teammates Todd Bertuzzi and Dan Cloutier. May made his Red Wings debut in a pre-season game on September 25, 2009.[10] At the start of the 2009–10 season on October 8, 2009, May then signed a one-year contract with the Red Wings.[11] After posting 2 assists in 40 games with Red Wings May was put on waiver to clear roster room for Andreas Lilja on February 12, 2010.[12] After clearing waivers and briefly contemplating possible retirement[13] May decided to report to Wings AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, to play out the season.[14] In an expanded role with the Griffins May scored 10 points in 17 games before he was returned to Detroit as a part of the extended squad for the playoffs.[15]

Post Playing Career & Broadcasting

On September 20, 2010, without an offer of a new contract, May effectively announced his retirement in accepting a position as a CBC American Hockey League analyst.[16] He currently works as an analyst with Rogers Sportsnet. On October 3, 2013, it was announced that longtime Buffalo Sabres analyst Mike Robitaille will be retiring after the 2013-14 season and former Sabres forward Brad May will join the crew on a limited basis before moving into Robitaille's slot in a full-time role for the NHL 2014-15 season.[17][18]

Incidents

Phoenix Coyotes

As a member of the Phoenix Coyotes in November 2000, May was suspended for 20 games for slashing Columbus Blue Jackets forward Steve Heinze in the nose with his stick. Heinze would need nine stitches, but returned to ice quickly. After the game, May apologized to Heinze, who accepted the apology. At the time, the 20-game suspension was the fourth longest in NHL history.[19]

In 2002, May was arrested after assaulting a police officer and disorderly conduct at a nightclub in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was consequently sued by the police officer and in December 2005, was ordered to pay damages from a civil jury.[20]

Steve Moore

May was also noted for allegedly putting the bounty on the head of the Colorado Avalanche's Steve Moore that ultimately resulted in the Todd Bertuzzi incident that essentially ended Moore's career.[21] May was named in a lawsuit filed by Moore, but unable to prove conspiracy theories, charges were later dropped in Colorado as the case was moved to a Canadian court.[22][23]

Kim Johnsson

May was suspended for three games in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs for punching Minnesota Wild defenceman Kim Johnsson in the face during the final minutes of Game Four between the Ducks and Wild.[24] Both teams were involved in a large scrum of fighting, pushing, and shoving. May turned around and without warning punched Johnsson, who was skating towards the scrum. Johnsson was knocked unconscious for a short amount of time. Johnsson was not seriously injured, but was hospitalized, and missed Game Five of the series. The Ducks would win that game and eliminate the Wild from the Playoffs. In an interview, May said that he intended to contact Johnsson to apologize and explain what happened.[25]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1988–89 Niagara Falls Thunder OHL 65 8 14 22 304 17 0 1 1 55
1989–90 Niagara Falls Thunder OHL 61 33 58 91 223 16 9 13 22 64
1990–91 Niagara Falls Thunder OHL 34 37 32 69 93 14 11 14 25 53
1991–92 Buffalo Sabres NHL 69 11 6 17 309 7 1 4 5 2
1992–93 Buffalo Sabres NHL 82 13 13 26 242 8 1 1 2 14
1993–94 Buffalo Sabres NHL 84 18 27 45 171 7 0 2 2 9
1994–95 Buffalo Sabres NHL 33 3 3 6 87 4 0 0 0 2
1995–96 Buffalo Sabres NHL 79 15 29 44 295 — — — — —
1996–97 Buffalo Sabres NHL 42 3 4 7 106 10 1 1 2 32
1997–98 Buffalo Sabres NHL 36 4 7 11 113 — — — — —
1997–98 Vancouver Canucks NHL 27 9 3 12 41 — — — — —
1998–99 Vancouver Canucks NHL 66 6 11 17 102 — — — — —
1999–00 Vancouver Canucks NHL 59 9 7 16 90 — — — — —
2000–01 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 62 11 14 25 107 — — — — —
2001–02 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 72 10 12 22 95 5 0 0 0 0
2002–03 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 20 3 4 7 32 — — — — —
2002–03 Vancouver Canucks NHL 3 0 0 0 10 14 0 0 0 15
2003–04 Vancouver Canucks NHL 70 5 6 11 137 6 1 0 1 6
2005–06 Colorado Avalanche NHL 54 3 3 6 82 3 0 0 0 0
2006–07 Colorado Avalanche NHL 10 0 3 3 8 — — — — —
2006–07 Anaheim Ducks NHL 14 0 1 1 13 18 0 1 1 28
2007–08 Anaheim Ducks NHL 61 3 1 4 53 6 0 0 0 4
2008–09 Anaheim Ducks NHL 20 0 5 5 28 — — — — —
2008–09 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 38 1 1 2 61 — — — — —
2009–10 Detroit Red Wings NHL 40 0 2 2 66 — — — — —
2009–10 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 17 5 5 10 40 — — — — —
NHL totals 1041 127 162 289 2248 88 4 9 13 112

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
1991 Canada WJC 1st 7 1 0 1 2
1996 Canada WC 2nd 8 0 0 0 6
Junior totals 7 1 0 1 2
Senior totals 8 0 0 0 6

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sabres history of trades". SabreSfans.com. 2010-07-20. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  2. ↑ "May wants to make new start with Avs". ESPN. 2005-09-15. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  3. ↑ "Avs gets youngster Wall, give up veteran May in trade". ESPN. 2007-02-27. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  4. ↑ "Ducks sign Veteran forward May to two-year, $1.2M deal". ESPN. 2007-07-04. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  5. ↑ "Ducks take down kings for second time in three nights". CBS Sports. 2007-11-16. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  6. ↑ "May and Stanley Cup appear at Rose parade". Anaheim Ducks. 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  7. ↑ "Leafs acquire Brad May from Ducks". Toronto Maple Leafs. 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  8. ↑ "Maple Leafs' Brad May reaches milestone 1000th game NHL game". thehockeywriters.com. 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  9. ↑ "Toronto's May fired up for 1,000th game". Sudbury Star. 2009-04-07. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  10. ↑ "May to be in lineup tonight for tryout". Detroit Free Press. 2009-09-25. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  11. ↑ "Red Wings sign Brad May". Detroit Red Wings. 2009-10-08. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  12. ↑ "Red Wings place Brad May on waivers". National Hockey League. 2010-02-12. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  13. ↑ "With possible retirement looming, Griffins await Brad May's decision on future". mlive.com. 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  14. ↑ "Brad May will join Griffins; Red Wings want enforcer to finish season in AHL". mlive.com. 2010-02-24. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  15. ↑ "Wings Justin Abdelkader and Brad May will return for playoffs". inspin.com. 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  16. ↑ "CBC Sports hires Brad May as AHL analyst". CBC Sports. 2010-09-20. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  17. ↑ http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=685298
  18. ↑ http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/2013/10/roby-retiring-from-sabres-broadcasts-after-season-brad-may-joining-crew.html
  19. ↑ "Coyotes' May Suspended 20 Games, Brad May Suspended By NHL For 20 Games". CBS News. 2000-11-17. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  20. ↑ "Colorado's May ordered to pay $26K for punching cop". ESPN. 2005-12-17. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  21. ↑ "Report:Moore's lawyer deemed settlement offer 'insulting'". ESPN. 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  22. ↑ "Go North: Judge tosses Moore's suit against Bertuzzi". ESPN. 2005-10-13. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  23. ↑ "Making May-Hem". Vancouver Sun. 2007-05-16. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  24. ↑ "Questionable punch has team fighting mad". Minnesota Star Tribune. 2007-04-18. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  25. ↑ "Russo’s rants » Blog Archive » Pictures of May/Johnsson incident, White doubtful, Brad May transcript". Minnesota Star Tribune. 2007-04-19. Retrieved 2007-05-01.

External links

Preceded by
Kevin Haller		 Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick
1990 		Succeeded by
Philippe Boucher
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