Wade Redden

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Redden joined the Senators from the Brandon Wheat Kings for the 1996–97 season, making the team out of his first training camp. He scored his first career NHL goal on his first shot, against Jocelyn Thibault of the Montreal Canadiens on October 5, 1996. By the 1999–2000 season, he was an important part of the team, and on October 2, 1999, he was named alternate captain, a position he held for nine seasons. In the 2001–02 season, Redden was named to the 2002 NHL All-Star Game, and in the 2003–04 season, he set a personal best of 17 goals, earning a spot in the 2004 NHL All-Star Game. In the 2005–06 season, he finished with a career-high 50 points and a joint-NHL-leading plus-minus rating of +35 in 65 games, including a four-point game against the New York Rangers on December 26, 2005. After the 2005–06 season, the Senators chose to retain Redden over Zdeno Chára, signing him to a two-year, $13 million contract with a no-trade clause, making him the highest-paid player on the team and the highest paid aboriginal player in the NHL. In the 2007 playoffs, Redden recorded 10 points in 20 games as the Senators reached the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the Anaheim Ducks in five games.

In Their Own Story

The 2007 playoffs were a defining moment for Redden and the Senators. After a difficult regular season adjusting to a new defensive partner, Andrej Meszároš, Redden and Meszároš jelled by playoff time, forming a strong pairing. Redden participated in all of Ottawa's run to the Stanley Cup Finals, recording 10 points in 20 playoff games. Though the Senators eventually lost to the Anaheim Ducks in five games, Redden's performance was a key part of the team's deepest playoff run in franchise history.

Reader's Guide

Wade Redden was originally selected second overall by the New York Islanders in the 1995 NHL entry draft, but never played for the team. He was traded in a three-team deal with the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs on January 23, 1996. Redden joined the Senators for the 1996–97 season and quickly established himself as a top defenseman. He was named NHL Rookie of the Month for April 1997 and was an important part of the team's first Stanley Cup playoff appearance in modern Senators history. Over his tenure, Redden became known for his offensive contributions, averaging over 25 minutes of ice time per game in the 2000–01 season and recording 37 assists. He played in his 800th career NHL game on January 10, 2008, against the Buffalo Sabres. After the 2007–08 season, Redden left the Senators as an unrestricted free agent, signing a six-year, $39 million contract with the New York Rangers on July 1, 2008.

Did You Know?

• Redden scored his first career NHL goal on his first shot, against Jocelyn Thibault of the Montreal Canadiens on October 5, 1996.
• He was named NHL Rookie of the Month for April 1997.
• Redden was a two-time NHL All-Star, selected in 2002 and 2004.
• In the 2005–06 season, he had a joint-NHL-leading plus-minus rating of +35 in 65 games.
• Redden was the highest paid aboriginal player in the NHL during the 2006–07 season.