Wade Redden placed on waivers by New York Rangers
Veteran defenceman Wade Redden has been placed on waivers, it was officially announced by the New York Rangers. Redden, who signed a six-year, $39m contract only two years ago, has not lived up to his
billing as a top tier defenseman since coming over from Ottawa, where he enjoyed enormous success as one of the team leaders and key ingredients on the Senators blue line.
New York Rangers general manager Glen Sather, believes that, besides freeing the team of Redden's hefty $6.5M salary cap hit, that the move will give younger players an opportunity to jump into the action
and gain some valuable experience. Sather said he had earlier given warnings to Redden that if he didn't impress early, he could be cut.
"I told him at the end of last year that if he didn't have a great camp this was going to happen," said Sather.
Given the size of Redden's contract, which still has four years remaining on it, it is unlikely that teams around the league would be willing to take the risk on the thirty-three year old and bite on the
opportunity to pick him up off waivers. That will mean that Redden will likely be shipped to the Ranger's AHL affiliate the Hartford Wolf Pack.
It has been reported that Redden is undecided on what he will do - his options being to take the minor league assignment in Hartford, or try to find work elsewhere in the league. Redden has scored a disappointing
five goals and thirty-five assists for the Rangers in the two regular seasons he has played in New York, and two assists in seven playoff games. It's been a speedy decline in stature for the defenceman who was so highly rated in Ottawa. His is widely regarded
as one of the worst contracts signed since the beginning of the salary cap era.
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