Who Wore It: Sabres History – #10
Say the name “Brad May” to any Sabres fan, and I’d be willing to bet that most of them will instantaneously think of “MAY DAY! MAY DAY! MAY DAY!” It’s arguably the thing that Brad May is most well-known for in his tenure with the Sabres, but it isn’t all he did.
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BRAD MAY
Left Wing, b. 1971
Drafted by the Sabres, 14th overall, 1990
A Toronto native, May spent a lot of time playing hockey in the area. Prior to being drafted by the Sabres – and for a short time after, May played with the Niagara Falls Thunder of the OHL. In just two and a half seasons, he accrued 620 penalty minutes. He also had 182 points in 160 games.
The left winger was drafted by the Sabres in 1990 and joined the team for the 1991-92 season. He played 69 games in his rookie season, scoring 11 goals and adding six assists. Where he made the biggest mark, however, was in the penalty minutes category.
May had 309 penalty minutes that season, setting a Sabres record for most penalty minutes by a rookie. He also holds the record for fifth-most penalty minutes in a season by any Sabres player.
Of course, May’s most famous moment as a member of the Sabres came in his sophomore season. It was game four of the Adams Division semi-finals; the Sabres were up 3 games to none on the Boston Bruins.
The game was tied 5-5 when it headed to overtime, and who scored the winner?! Well it was May, of course. His overtime winner sent the Sabres to the second round of the playoffs and sparked Rick Jeanneret’s infamous “MAY DAY! MAY DAY!” goal call.
For the record: we’re coming up on the 21st anniversary of that goal. Uh, wow. Time flies.
Overall, May spent seven seasons with the Sabres. He was traded to the Canucks on February 4, 1998 with a 3rd-rounder in exchange for Geoff Sanderson.
May spent three seasons in his first stint with the Canucks until he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes. After three seasons there, he was bounced BACK to the Canucks, this time for future considerations.
He eventually wound up with the Colorado Avalanche, spending parts of two seasons there. Then it was off to Anaheim for parts of three seasons. Next, the Maple Leafs for 38 games in 2008-09. His final playing year was 2009-10, which he split between the Detroit Red Wings and their AHL affiliate.
Overall, May played 1,041 regular season NHL games in his career. He accrued 2,248 penalty minutes, but never more in a season than the 309 he racked up as a rookie with Buffalo.
He then became an assistant coach of the OHL’s Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors for one season. Now, he works with the Sabres broadcast team and is also an NHL analyst for Rogers Sportsnet.
May is fourth in Sabres history in total penalty minutes with 1,323. (For the record, Rob Ray is #1, with Mike Foligno and Larry Playfair following up.)
May largely wore #10 in his time with the Sabres, though he also at one point wore #27 and #48.
Other Sabres players to wear #10: Christian Ehrhoff, Mark Parrish, Henrik Tallinder, Dale Hawerchuk, Craig Ramsay, Phil Goyette