Brad May

Lore & Background

Brad May was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres 14th overall in the 1990 NHL entry draft. While not a prolific scorer, he contributed to Sabres history in his second full season. 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 faked out Andy Moog, causing Moog to fall and leave an open space for May to score on a wrist shot. The goal won the game and secured Buffalo's upset of the second-best team in the NHL. The goal is referred to informally as the "Mayday goal" due to the call by Sabres voice Rick Jeanneret.

May was later traded to the Vancouver Canucks, then signed with the Colorado Avalanche as an unrestricted free agent on August 20, 2005. His signing caused conjecture and debate in Colorado due to his role in the previous season's Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore incident. He was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on February 27, 2007, and the Ducks won the Stanley Cup that year. May re-signed with Anaheim and played his 900th career NHL game on November 16, 2007. He was selected to ride on Anaheim city's float at the 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade to accompany and parade the Stanley Cup.

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, he played in his 1,000th career NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres, having been purposely sat out for the previous game to make the milestone occur against his former team. After a tryout with the Detroit Red Wings, he signed a one-year contract on October 8, 2009, but was later put on waivers and reported to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. He retired from playing in 2010.

Reader's Guide

Brad May's significance in NHL history rests on several distinct moments. His "Mayday goal" in the 1993 playoffs remains one of the most memorable goals in Buffalo Sabres history, a dramatic overtime winner that eliminated the heavily favored Boston Bruins. The goal's nickname, derived from broadcaster Rick Jeanneret's call, has become part of hockey lore. May also achieved the ultimate team success, winning the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2006–07.

His career was marked by physical play and several controversial incidents. He received a 20-game suspension in 2000 for slashing Steve Heinze, then the fourth-longest in NHL history. He was arrested in 2002 for assaulting a police officer and disorderly conduct at a nightclub, later ordered to pay damages. He was also noted for allegedly putting a bounty on Steve Moore that led to the Todd Bertuzzi incident; May was named in a lawsuit, but the charges were later dropped in Colorado as the case moved to a Canadian court. In the 2007 playoffs, he was suspended three games for punching Kim Johnsson, knocking him unconscious.

After retiring, May became an NHL analyst, working for CBC, the Sabres broadcast crew, and later with AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain covering the Vegas Golden Knights. In 2024, he competed on The Amazing Race Canada with his daughter Sam, finishing 8th out of 11 teams. His career totals include 1,000 NHL games played, and he currently plays recreational adult league hockey in Anaheim, California in the Copper division (D League).

Did You Know?

• Brad May was born in Toronto, Ontario, but grew up in Markham, Ontario.
• May scored his 125th career goal in his 900th career NHL game on November 16, 2007.
• He competed on the tenth season of The Amazing Race Canada with his daughter Sam in 2024.