Rangers Sign Wade Redden to Six-Year Deal

[caps05]

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent defenseman Wade Redden.

Redden, 31, is a two-time NHL All-Star (2002 and 2004) and former NHL plus/minus award winner (2006, tie). A Gold Medalist at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, he was named Best Defensemen of the tournament by the Directorate at the 2005 IIHF World Championships.

Redden appeared in 80 games with the Ottawa Senators this past season, registering six goals and 32 assists for 38 points, along with a plus-11 rating and 60 penalty minutes. He ranked third on the Senators in average icetime (22:12), and led all team defensemen in assists (32) and points (38). His four power play goals also ranked second on the club among defensemen, and he finished third in defensemen goals (six) and plus/minus rating (plus-11).

He also posted nine multiple-point games, including a three-assist effort on December 29 vs. Washington. By collecting 38 points, Redden surpassed the 30-point mark for the ninth time in 11 NHL seasons. On December 26, he notched his 100th career NHL goal at Buffalo, and he skated in his 800th career NHL game vs. Buffalo on January 10. In addition, Redden tied for second on the Senators in post-season assists (one) and third in points (one) in four playoff contests.

In 2006-07, Redden led Ottawa in average icetime (22:54), finished fourth in power play points (19) and tied for sixth in assists (29). Among team defensemen, he ranked first in power play goals (four) and points per game (0.56), tied for the lead in game-winning goals (three) and ranked third in points (36). He also posted eight multiple-point games and recorded a career-high, seven-game point streak (two goals and eight assists) from January 3, 2007 vs. Buffalo to January 16, 2007 vs. Washington. He missed 18 games due to injury. In the 2007 playoffs, Redden helped the Senators to the Stanley Cup Finals, finishing first on the team and fourth in the NHL among defensemen with 10 points (three goals and seven assists).

The 6-2, 209-pounder has skated in 838 career regular season contests with the Ottawa Senators, registering 101 goals and 309 assists for 410 points, along with a plus-159 rating and 576 penalty minutes. He tallied a goal in his NHL debut on October 5, 1996 vs. Montreal and appeared in all 82 games during his rookie season.

The two-time All-Star (2002 and 2004) established a career-high in goals (17) in 2003-04, tying for the NHL lead among defensemen that season. In 2005-06, Redden reached the 40-assist plateau for the first time in his career and set a career-high with 50 points. He also tied for the league lead in plus/minus rating that season (plus-35). He was named NHL Rookie of the Month for April 1997 and awarded NHL Defensive Player of the Month for January 2004.

In post-season play, Redden has appeared in 94 career contests with the Senators, registering 12 goals and 33 assists for 45 points, along with 55 penalty minutes. In 2005-06, he tied for fourth on the Senators with 10 points, and his eight assists tied for third on the club. He notched his first career playoff overtime goal on April 29, 2003, at Philadelphia and recorded his first career playoff points (two assists) on May 11, 1998.

Internationally, Redden represented Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, registering one goal in six games. In 2005, he was named Best Defensemen of the tournament by the Directorate at the IIHF World Championships after helping Canada capture the Silver Medal. In addition, he won a Gold Medal with Team Canada at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and twice at the World U-20 Championships (1995 and 1996), and skated at the 1999 and 2001 World Championships.

The Lloydminster, Saskatchewan native was originally the New York Islanders’ first round choice, second overall, in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

[R.Middleton]

There you guys go. Main concern-how much he made.

[Thrillhouse]

6 years, $6.5 mil per.

[Skorka85]

38 assists and plus-11 is actually not bad, but they're right, you would expect more from Redden. This is another signing where it's tough to tell if it's worth it until terms of the deal are let out.

Nevermind, thanks Thrill. 6 years and 6.5 million per? I dunno, I would have given Avery the money he wanted.

[HordiBrusk29]

As I mentioned in another thread, I'd rather have Redden than Campbell. I guess this kind of makes up for the Rozsival deal?

[Purely_Purinton]

Nice, I was hoping there was one big fish at least for the Rags today, the payroll situation is a bit sketchy now though, 5 mil for Rozsival and 6.5 for Redden? I woulda rather let Rozy walk and spend the 3-5 mil on a bruiser. We'll see what else Slats has up his sleeves...

[Skorka85]

Originally Posted by Purely_Purinton

Nice, I was hoping there was one big fish at least for the Rags today, the payroll situation is a bit sketchy now though, 5 mil for Rozsival and 6.5 for Redden? I woulda rather let Rozy walk and spend the 3-5 mil on a bruiser. We'll see what else Slats has up his sleeves...

That's a good point too, this doesn't necessarily make the Rangers D much tougher, which has been a problem for them at times.

[28richter16]

TSN says 6 yr 6.5 mil, looks like the 6.5 is for over 6 years......too good to be true?

[Skorka85]

Originally Posted by 28richter16

TSN says 6 yr 6.5 mil, looks like the 6.5 is for over 6 years......too good to be true?

As in just over 1 million a year? No way is that true.

[28richter16]

Originally Posted by Skorka85

As in just over 1 million a year? No way is that true.

Thats what I'm thinking, although TSN has been giving total salaries given, I think it is 6.5 per but if that was total i'd be beyond thrilled.

[KiddYidd]

Originally Posted by Skorka85

As in just over 1 million a year? No way is that true.

Nah, it is 6.5 mil per season.

[28richter16]

never mind, it was changed to 6 yr 39 mil

[Snipes19]

Originally Posted by 28richter16

TSN says 6 yr 6.5 mil, looks like the 6.5 is for over 6 years......too good to be true?

No, it's 6.5 million per year, which is a great deal for the Rangers IMO. I agree with HordiBrusk29 that Redden is better than Campbell, which makes this deal look so much better for the Rangers since they are giving the better d-man less money than the other. Campbell shouldn't be making more, IMO. So the Rangers win over the Blackhawks here BIG TIME. I'd rather have Redden, and the Rangers are getting him for less money than Campbell too - so wow, Rangers fans can't complain about that...

Good move by the Rangers. He will really help out their blueline. No surprise that the Rangers made another big splash in free agency...

[bigjack]

Another ridiculous signing of an average defenseman. Since when he is a great powerplay man and banger to clear the front of the net. Then couple that with the fact that he's 31 and I don't like this move at all!
The Rangers better play alot of 1-0 games next year because I don't know where the goals are coming from!
This market for D-men is nuts! Christ, Leetch should make a comeback!

[canuckfan]

I hope for Ranger fans, Redden is just in need of a change in scenery and gets his level of play up to where most Senator fans were used to seeing him play. Its funny, you see the numbers he posted last season and they're not bad at all, but the guy struggled so much and was under constant criticism by the local media and the fans an just seemed to be playing under a cloud by the final months of the season.

Redden is a good d-man, but this a lot of $$$ for an older guy coming off one of the tougest seasons of his career.