The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired enforcer Brad May from the Anaheim Ducks. In exchange, the Ducks receive a conditional sixth-round draft pick in 2010. This is Bryan Burke's first move as Leafs GM.
May, 37, is in the final year of a two-year contract that pays him $600,000 this season. In 20 games with Anaheim this season, May has five assists and 28 PIM.
In 963 career games with Anaheim, Vancouver, Phoenix, Buffalo, and Colorado, the Toronto native has 285 points and 2,121 penalty minutes. It's the third time that May and Burke will be brought together (Anaheim and Vancouver).
The lack of toughness and grit has been obvious in the past few games and Burke wanted to rectify the problem as soon as possible. It was a simple, but efficient, move.
The acquisition of May might mean rookie enforcer Andre Deveaux will be sent back to the AHL soon. Meanwhile, rookie Nikolai Kulemin was assigned earlier today to the Toronto Marlies.
In 40 games with the Maple Leafs this season, Kulemin registered seven goals and 14 points.
From: www.nhl-northeast.com
10 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Andrew Anker 6 months ago
I like Deveaux and he is much better then May
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Marat Ryndin 6 months ago
This is about as exciting as it gets when it comes to trades in the salary cap NHL. Sad.
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Sebastien Tremblay 6 months ago
why not george parros instead! just as tough but younger! maybe burke will try to get the rest of the ducks roster thru trades?! lol
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G L 6 months ago
May is not a bad addition to add some grit and leadership, but why are they trading draft picks for these guys when they are supposed to be rebuilding. Hes already 37 yrs old and wont help the team in the future. Defintly not one of Burke's finest moves.
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Scott Quinn 6 months ago
This is a short-term move to help bring some character into the dressing room and teach some of the young leafs of the future to play hard and with heart.
Hopefully a fire sale in the next few weeks and on draft day will replace all the lost picks and add some more.
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Graeme Boyce 6 months ago
Deveaux will be back next year. I like him too but he needs some more learnin' with the Marlies. I've got a feeling it's a pretty deflated dressing room these days, and young guys like Deveaux aren't likely going to be speaking up at this stage. That's May's fit, if you ask me, as well as some tempered yet passionate action on the ice ... a la Battlin Brad Smith!
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Nelson Santos 6 months ago
Waste of a move, a roster spot and a 6th pick. Players like Brad May are acquired in the 9th round....why bother??????
What I don't get is that I read a few comments claiming he will add GRIT and Character......correct me if I'm wrong but early in the season when the Leafs were the 'comeback kids' were the come backs not all because of the character and grit and even desire they were showing?????? So why is it that 40 games into the season they now require MORE GRIT in the form of a 37 year old?????
Here is the harsh reality. Bad team, no talent and now fatigue of a long season has set in and they simply can't work hard enough to compete with the team they have. May was acquired for one reason.....Burke is famous for acquiring players he is familiar with....May will have as much impact on the Leafs' performance as a feather dropped from a skyscraper would have on the sidewalk below.
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Jeff Badger 6 months ago
Actually Nelson, no, the Leafs never had Grit - they had effort, speed, a strong forecheck and lots of heart, but no grit. Deveaux brought a bit for about 4 games, then faded. As for the rest, well, a lot of that was driven by trying to prove wrong the critics who said they were a cellar dwellar.
You're right when you say they are fatigued, not to mention overcome by the general malaise that set in with the realization that at the half-way mark, they clearly are a bottom 5 team in the East. This is the part May takes care of - the dressing room and bench will not be quiet anymore when the Leafs start with an effort like Tuesday's.
May is taking Hollweg's roster spot - that is an upgrade. Since being put on a leash for the hitting from behind, Hollweg has been largely ineffective. "Waste of a 6th pick" - ok, but notice it's a conditional pick, which will in all likelihood be returned by seasons end, unless May is resigned over the summer, or meets whatever other stipulations are in place. We'll see, but I doubt we'll lose that pick.
The impact May has is he will make the rest of the Leafs braver - particularily those who are supposed to have a bit of grit already. Watch Jamal Mayers the next 4 or 5 games - with May backing him up, Mayers will have more confidence to be more of a physical presence, without the worry of havign to fight Larraque or Brashear.
May is the type of guy who can keep a young losing team from feeling like losers. They are going to lose most nights, yes, but now at least they wo't be pushed around quite so much, or, at the very least, will be much more likely to push back. May brings pride, even when the scoreboard does not. I only wish he was 5 years younger.
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Nelson Santos 6 months ago
Well leave it to Leaf fans to find positives in a Brad May acquisition. The leafs are in a BAD place......there is no need to bring players to help any of the current roster become BRAVER...isn't Burke going to move most of these players anyways?????
The reality is the Leafs are not losing because of lack of bravery, they are losing because of LACK OF TALENT and last I checked May didn't have much of that!
The characteristics May apparently has are the characteristics you add to a team on the upswing of a rebuilding process, not during the de-building stages.
As for the conditional pick, even if they keep it. They still lost a 5th round pick for May....they gave a 5th for Hollweg who now is in the pressbox for May....again you could easily acquire a player of May or Hollweg's ilk in that round.
Once again the circular building that is the trademark of TML is in full effect.
I do not envy the job Burke as ahead of him, but I do envy the BLIND and LOYAL support he will have along the way from the fan base.
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Fred Poulin 6 months ago
May looked like a fool fighting against Bouillon yesterday! May is washed up!
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