Wade Redden found a new time along with new home right away, after having his contract bought out by the New York Rangers. Redden was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 1995 NHL drafted, he is picked in the first round, second overall. The Islanders ended up trading Redden to the Ottawa Senators on January 23, 1996. So, Redden never made it to the NHL with the Islanders, instead he was able to come into the league with the Ottawa Senators. He turned out to be a good top four defenseman for the Senators, and helped them later during playoff runs (like in the 2006-2007 when they went to the Stanley Cup, only to lose in five games to the Anaheim Ducks). While in Ottawa, Redden was paired up with another star defenseman in Zdeno Chara (now with the Boston Bruins).Redden was later let go in free agency by the Senators, and would sign a big deal with the New York Rangers for six years, worth $39 million. He signed that contract with the Rangers on July 1, 2008. That contract by the Rangers, would end up being one of their worst contracts ever. He would play only two seasons for the Rangers (2008-2009, and 2009-2010). After the 2010 season, the Rangers tried to get rid of him and his contract by putting him on waivers, hoping someone would claim him. Instead no team claimed him, and the would end up playing the AHL (American Hockey League). Redden became the highest paid player to play in the AHL during that time. Redden served as the captain for the Rangers AHL team for the 2011-2012 season.
Before joining the Rangers, Redden had been a two time All-Star in the NHL while on the Senators (2002, and 2004 .... even though he didn't play in the All-Star game in 04, due to having the flu). Redden won an award for the 2005-2006 season, NHL Plus/Minus Award (that award is given to the best player who leads the NHL in plus/minus statistics, the player also needs to play a minimum of 60 games). Redden was a +35, playing in 65 games, scoring 10 goals, with 45 assists. Those statistics added up to 50 points, which as of right now is a career high for him.
The Blues signed him to a one-year deal, worth $800,000. Redden could end up making a total of $1 million in bonuses, for playing a certain amount of games. What do the Blues hope to get in Redden? Pretty much depth on defense, and to help out the Blues young defensive core, like Ian Cole (who as of right now is a work in progress). Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock likes Redden as a player, and knows him well. So, all in all the Blues hope that Redden can re-find his career and that he has something left in him. After all, people thought that Sheldon Souray's career was done, he proved people wrong last season playing for the Dallas Stars and only spent one season playing in the AHL.
Redden could turn out to be a low risk/high reward for the Blues, and it could turn out to be a win-win deal for both sides. Redden's career stats in the NHL in thirteen seasons: he's played in 994 career games, 106 goals, 344 assists, and 450 points. He's also a +162 for his career. If Redden does have anything left in his NHL career, St. Louis should be an easy place for him to try to rebound and get his career back on track, he wont have much pressure on him, like he would in a bigger market like New York or Los Angeles (the LA Kings had been one of the teams wanting him after his contract was bought out). New York has also been known to eat up players, and then once lots leave New York, they seem to re-find their careers.
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