Canucks: Brad May talks MacEwen, Sedin twins, Green and more
Vancouver Canucks fan-favorite, Brad May talks about his playing days, the current team, Zack MacEwen, Travis Green, the Sedin twins, and so much more.
The 50th season for the Vancouver Canucks was filled with celebration. There were plenty of beautifully done pre-game ceremonies including a well-deserved Ring of Honour Night for Alex Burrows, a reunion of the 2011 team’s best players on Legends Night, the Sedin’s Jersey Retirement Night and five different Canucks Era nights.
Each Era Night covered a decade of Canucks history and with it, a few alumni players would be selected to represent what the team stood for during that specific time period. It was a very special moment for both the fans, who got to see their favourite players from the past again, and for the players who got to relive the glory days. Some real fan-favourites including Todd Bertuzzi, Orland Kurtenbach, Markus Naslund and the always feisty Brad May were just some of the few Canucks’ Greats that helped pitch in and make this year so much more incredible.
Recently, May accepted an invitation to join me for a chat on The PP1 Podcast and on two separate occasions, we were able to go into detail about a variety of Canucks related topics. Spending over two hours with me, May had a ton to say. We discuss his winning days, Zack MacEwen, the Sedin twins, Travis Green, his thoughts on the current team, and so much more.
Part 1
Q: Retired from professional hockey since 2010, what have you been up to these days?
“Been in television for nine of the ten years, I basically started off in Toronto working for Sportsnet and NHL Network, then Leafs TV, the Buffalo Sabres, I was with the Vegas Golden Knights as an analyst. It’s been a ton of fun. The last 6-8 months I took a step away from hockey, took a breath, and I’m trying to figure out what’s next for Brad.”
Q: You were warmly welcomed back to Vancouver on the 2000s Era Night when you got the opportunity to join the fans in celebrating such a storied franchise. How did it feel to be back in the spotlight in Vancouver and back in the classic white orca Canucks jersey?
“First of all, love Vancouver, I got to play there twice for the Canucks. Incredibly honored and flattered that they asked me to come back and help the team celebrate the decade of the 2000s, but also represent my teammates and guys that played. It was a ton of fun. A great weekend in Vancouver. People have always been kind to my family, that weekend was no exception. It was cool.”
Q: In an interview on The PP1 Podcast you mentioned the fact that Zack MacEwen really caught your eye during his 2 goal performance on Era Night against the Avalanche. What do you like about his game? What kind of advice would you give him?
“I don’t know the player, I never met him, I was watching the game when I was in Vancouver. Number 71 jumped out at me. Finished his checks, he was on the right side of every battle. The defensive side, he had the ability to read, to get in on the forecheck, of course, he finished twice in that game as well (2 goals). Travis loves (his) compete-level. He’s throwback, he’s old school. Not a lot of players like that nowadays. MacEwen has all the intangibles. His character stands out. The coach loves his character.”
“MacEwen has the ability that if games are being won or lost, he can be a factor in every single one of them. I appreciate those players that can be a chameleon, change, and wear a lot of different hats.”
Part 2
Q: You had the opportunity to play with the Sedin Twins in their earlier years. They are such iconic players in Vancouver now with their careers complete. What did you learn from their earlier years that would have helped them become such legends on the Pacific West Coast?
“They were great players from the outset, a lot of pressure on them of course. Brian Burke did a magnificent job getting them. They were literally two guys, one brain. As teammates we saw them dominate at a level as teammates we couldn’t keep up to them in practice. It was only a matter of time until they were going to break out and do it. Their numbers are uncanny, how close they are in goals and assists. The entire body of work. When Daniel was hurt, Henrik won the scoring title. Both brothers, both amazing. They made each other better, but they made the players around them better too.”
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Q: The 2003-04 Canucks were stacked with talent. We’re talking West Coast Express, The twins, Linden, Kesler, Jovo, Salo, Ohlund, Cooke, Cloutier, and yourself. That team was expected to win it all! Did the locker room feel the same way? What happened?
“We lost in the first round in the 7th game. We came up against Jarome Iginla who literally was turning into the best power forward at the time taking it over from Bertuzzi who was (suspended) at the time. If Bert was in the series, we would have beat Calgary I believe. That being said, we fell short of our goal, we were a better team, should have done better, we underachieved, we thought we’d get through, they went to the finals. Does that mean the Canucks were close? Maybe. We obviously were a great team that underachieved”
Q: Going from playing with the 2003-04 “Cup Contending” Vancouver Canucks, to winning a Stanley Cup with the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks. What was the biggest difference between those two teams? What did the Ducks have that the Nucks did not?
“I would say the focus is number one. Focus to win. Two Hall of Fame defenseman in Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer. We had Ilya Bryzgalov and J.S. Giguere who stood on their heads. We were just a better team. Very very deep, maybe the single largest thing was that we were an older team. Good young players, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, but we also had a lot of older players with 15-16 years in the NHL. Those guys who hadn’t won yet, we were hungry.”
Part 3
Q: With a Stanley Cup ring to your name, you know what it takes to be a winner. You know what it takes for a team to finally take that next step. Looking at the Canucks current roster, what do they need to do in order to have that same success?
“They have to believe. that’s number one. That happens over the course of losses and a long season. If you don’t have that, you’ll never be a champion. You have to stay present. You have to understand what got you to where you are. Go out and perform. The bottom line is you can’t be successful without going out and being successful. You cant win the cup by yourself, I don’t care how good you are. Hockey is the ultimate team game. From the best player, all the way to the 23rd man. They’ve got good young players who need to learn from the vets, and listen to their coach.”
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Q: Jim Benning and Judd Brackett have built a strong young core in Vancouver that includes Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser, and Thatcher Demko. All these players are under 24-years-old. Do you think this team is capable of winning the Cup? What are your thoughts on the current team?
“I certainly hope so. The 2011 team did go to game 7 of the final and I believe they should have won. Where are your star players in their development now? Are Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson ready to take that next step? The Sedins weren’t ready in 03-04, it took them seven or eight years to grow into themselves. Where are the stars when they become great again? Can they be better? Yes. Are they better? It’s hard to replace Daniel and Henrik.”
Q: You’re close friends with head coach Travis Green. And back in the day you also got the opportunity to witness first hand your goaltender Dan Cloutier dust him up a bit in a bit of a behind the net scuffle (helmet off, shoulder pad exposed). Did you ever chirp him for that?
“I love the question. I never talked to him about it, but I’m definitely going to rip him for it now. But in all honesty, there is nothing there for Travis to be ashamed of. Dan Cloutier was a good goaltender, he couldn’t win the big ones but we loved him. He’s tough, he was the third or fourth toughest guy on the team that year. We had to talk him out of fighting sometimes.”
Part 4
Q: Travis Green is highly liked in Vancouver as a head coach. What are your thoughts on his coaching style at the NHL level? Does anything stand out to you as a coach of him?
“I know Travis as a teammate, played on the same line on the Coyotes. We’re good buddies. I knew him as a person, always knew he’d be a good coach. He’s a student of the game, he loves hockey. He has the mind for that, the ability to try and improve. He’s done it the right way. WHL, American League, he didn’t rush it and won a championship at both levels. As a coach in Vancouver, I haven’t watched closely so I can’t weigh in on that. But as a friend and teammate, he’s one of my best buddies. I love being around him. He’s got that (seriousness) in him. He believes in his system. He can be hard on his players, but he’s a really good communicator, that’s what makes him my friend. And what makes him my friend is going to make him a champion.”
Q: Back in your playing days, How much did the players pay attention to management changes and rumors surrounding scouts? Most hockey fans don’t tend to follow these topics, but Vancouver is a heck of a hockey city. The fans are all over the Judd Brackett right now.
“I paid attention to pretty much everything. The whole organization. Fully invested. As a player, you never really saw them (scouts) as they were always watching other guys. The bottom line is, you have to be concerned about your own play because those guys are always trying to find the guy to replace you. I learned this from older players, that stuff is all noise. If you’re paying attention to that (as a fan), you’re not doing it right. The best organizations lose great people every year. It’s about the ability to replace those people.”
Q: Any final thoughts or closing words?
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“The May family loves B.C., loves the Canucks. We wish everyone happiness and to stay safe.”