Brad May

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

May was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres, 14th overall, in the 1990 NHL entry draft. 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. 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! Mayday! Mayday! Brad May! Wins it in overtime! Buffalo sweeps the Bruins!' May was later traded by the Sabres to the Vancouver Canucks for forward Geoff Sanderson on February 5, 1998.

In Their Own Story

The Memorial Auditorium crowd holds its breath as overtime begins in Game 4 of the 1993 playoffs. The Sabres are facing the second-best team in the NHL, the Boston Bruins, with a chance to sweep the series. Pat LaFontaine, falling at center ice, manages to get a pass to Brad May. May takes the puck, dekes past legendary defenseman Ray Bourque, and charges toward goal. He fakes a shot, causing goaltender Andy Moog to fall to the ice, leaving the net wide open. May fires a wrist shot into the empty cage. The building erupts as Rick Jeanneret's voice booms: 'Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Brad May! Wins it in overtime! Buffalo sweeps the Bruins!' The goal remains one of the most iconic moments in Sabres history.

Reader's Guide

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. He was later traded on February 27, 2007, to the Anaheim Ducks for goaltender Michael Wall. The Ducks went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. On July 4, 2007, May re-signed as a free agent with Anaheim for another two years. 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. On April 8, 2009, May played in his 1,000th career NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres. On September 23, 2009, May was invited to try out for the Detroit Red Wings. At the start of the 2009–10 season on October 8, 2009, May then signed a one-year contract with the Red Wings. After posting 2 assists in 40 games with Red Wings May was put on waiver on February 12, 2010. After clearing waivers May decided to report to Wings AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, to play out the season. 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. Following the retirement of longtime Buffalo Sabres analyst Mike Robitaille after the 2013-14 season, May joined the Sabres broadcast crew on a limited basis before moving into Robitaille's slot in a full-time role for the NHL 2014-15 season. May was replaced on Sabres broadcasts by Martin Biron following the 2016-2017 season. Beginning with the 2017-2018 season, May served as an analyst for the Vegas Golden Knights with AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain. In 2024, May competed on the tenth season of The Amazing Race Canada with his daughter Sam, where they finished 8th out of 11 teams. Brad May currently plays recreational adult league hockey in Anaheim California in the Copper division (D League).

Did You Know?

• May's 'Mayday goal' in the 1993 playoffs secured Buffalo's upset of the second-best team in the NHL.
• May played his 1,000th career NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on April 8, 2009.
• May was suspended for 20 games in 2000 for slashing Steve Heinze, then the fourth-longest suspension in NHL history.
• May was not suspended for punching Kim Johnsson in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs; that incident did not result in a suspension.