As he approaches 1,000 NHL games, Wade Redden hoping to make the most of his second chance
Wade Redden hoped he would one day get to the milestone he is about to celebrate next week in St. Louis, but that’s about all he could do. Cross his fingers.
Wade Redden hoped he would one day get to the milestone he is about to celebrate next week in St. Louis, but that’s about all he could do. Cross his fingers.
The day after his first daughter Leni was born in September 2010, the New York Rangers waived Redden and sent him to the American Hockey League’s Connecticut Whale to get the final four years of his six-year, $39-million U.S. contract off the books.
After two seasons that were beyond disappointment, the Rangers, and in particular coach John Tortorella, had had enough.
And so for the next two years, the then-33-year-old defenceman, who had played 994 games in the NHL and not a single one in the minors, found himself stuck in Connecticut, with a contract that was too rich for anyone to touch and too rich for him to give up.
The predicament was all the more poignant because if anyone didn’t deserve this humiliation, it was Redden, one of the better people you could ever meet in or out of the game, as people in the Ottawa Valley well know from his 12 years in this community.
Which is why it was so satisfying on so many levels when Redden finally got his wish.
When the new collective bargaining agreement was modified to allow teams to dump one contract this season, the Rangers exercised their option and bought out Redden, freeing him and allowing the St. Louis Blues to sign him to a one-year deal worth $1 million, including about $200,000 in potential bonuses.
And next week, either Thursday at home against the Detroit Red Wings or Saturday at home against the Anaheim Ducks, he’ll reach the milestone that has eluded him for the last two years: his 1,000th game.
Of the 997 games Redden had played heading into Friday’s game in Detroit, 838 were played in an Ottawa uniform. So it’ll feel a bit odd reaching 1,000 after only six games in a Blues’ uniform, he says. He’s hoping St. Louis fans find it in themselves to cheer, if even a little.
“I had a lot of good years in Ottawa,” he said. “Obviously in New York, I had some challenges. But I’ve been very fortunate to stick around for 1,000 games.
“The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind. With everything else that’s been happening, the game is taking a bit of a back seat, but it’s something I’m very proud of.
“In my head I was always hoping I was going to get another chance. I did, and I’m going to make the most of it.”
If it’s a cliché that you don’t know how good you have it until you don’t, it applies to Redden.
From the first-class life of a professional athlete in New York, he had to get used to riding buses and playing in small-town rinks, something he hadn’t done since he was a junior with the Brandon Wheat Kings.
The demotion was almost enough to make him quit, which is what the Rangers were hoping he would do so they wouldn’t have to play his $6.5-million salary, but his wide circle of family, friends and former teammates convinced him to stay.
In addition to former Ottawa teammates Curtis Leschyshyn and Daniel Alfredsson, Redden leaned on advice from Wheat Kings general manager Kelly McCrimmon and his late brother Brad.
McCrimmon will be in St. Louis for Redden’s 1,000th game.
“He signed a contract in New York that after a while they thought would be better in Connecticut,” McCrimmon said Kelly in an interview from Brandon, Man.
“Even though he was tremendously well compensated, it was a difficult situation for a guy who had never played a game in the minors.
“We just talked to him about having to play the cards you’re dealt and that’s what he did. There’s never been a touch of arrogance or entitlement about Wade.
“This isn’t the story of a guy who was injured and is finally coming back or a guy who spent lots of years in the minors and is finally getting a chance.
“This is a unique situation he was in and I’m sure there were some days when he was wondering if he’d ever get back.
“So this is probably even more satisfying for him.
“There are few people happier or prouder than me to see him reach this milestone.”
After he got over the shock of being sent to Connecticut, Redden was the model citizen. He did everything that was asked of him and more, says coach Ken Gernander.
He worked hard, tutored the team’s young defenceman — getting a shout-out from Ryan McDonagh when he arrived in New York — and was elected team captain for the 2011-12 season.
“He’s such a humble and patient guy who carries himself so well that any suggestion from him really carried weight,” Gernander said during an interview from Hartford, Conn.
“He was a calming influence in the dressing room and on the ice he was a reliable guy who was always in position. That made it a lot easier for the other guys because he was such a good read.”
Redden was also generous, taking his teammates, who made infinitely less money than he did, out for the odd lunch.
And occasionally, said Gernander, he’d put an iPad up on the bulletin board for the player who scored the winning goal.
But while that may have endeared him to his teammates, the rest of the league looked at him as a target.
“I think it was hard for him in a lot of ways,” Gernander said. “He was challenged a number of times, whether it was because of his contract status or because someone was looking to make a mark.
“But he always handled himself with class.
“He could have made the worst of it and been a real problem, but I can’t say enough about Wade as a teammate or as a person.”
While he wasn’t happy about being sent to Hartford, Redden said he had to accept the situation and make the best of it if he ever wanted to get back to the NHL.
While his play had noticeably declined in New York, he had played 12 seasons in the NHL, so it wasn’t as if he had suddenly lost all his skill. But he did need to work at it.
“Obviously there were different circumstances that affected my reason for being there,” he said. “It wasn’t good for the Rangers and it wasn’t good for me. It was tough initially to go down there, but I understood the situation.
“Life goes on and I went down there, worked hard, played hard, tried to be a good teammate and did all the things I usually do.
“I always felt like if I did those things, it’d be my best chance to get back.”
After the buyout, Redden had offers from about six teams, but the Blues were the best fit.
They were a young, exciting team with a good chance to go far in the playoffs.
He also had someone in his corner in the form of coach Ken Hitchcock.
Just about the time that Redden had left the Senators in 2008 and was mulling over free-agent offers, Hitchcock, then in Columbus, wanted the Blue Jackets to go after him.
Hitchcock coached Redden in the 2004 World Cup and the 2006 Olympics (when Hitchcock and then-Senators coach Jacques Martin were roommates) and had seen plenty of him when he was coach of the Philadelphia Flyers from 2002-03 to 2006-07.
Redden chose the Rangers, though.
With the Blues, Hitchcock and general manager Doug Armstrong needed depth — after not re-signing the oft-injured Carlo Colaiacovo and releasing Colin White — and a partner for the up-and-coming Alex Pietrangelo.
The Blues had scouted Redden over his two years in the AHL, said Armstrong, and were comfortable that he could still play in the NHL. Plus, Redden was in great shape — which in the past had been a criticism — after spending the lockout working hard with a group of players in Kelowna, B.C., where he now lives.
“He’s a very dependable, smart player and lets the puck do the work for him,” Armstrong told reporters.
When Redden got to St. Louis, Hitchcock talked and Redden listened.
“There are different coaches who like different styles and different kinds of players and he kind of laid it out for me,” Redden. said. “I think the style they play is like what Jacques had us playing in Ottawa. It’s hard-working, defence-first mentality, but we create a lot of opportunities from it, so I feel comfortable.
“I was just happy to get a chance with any team, really, but St. Louis was a good fit for me and it’s been a great start so far.
“It’s a privilege to play in the best league in the world.
“It’s just a lot of fun to be part of it and when you’re not around it, you sure appreciate it when you get back.”
Redden won’t second-guess his decision to sign with the Rangers and says he’s long past feeling bitter about the way things turned out.
He’s bruised, but has come out of it more or less intact.
“It wasn’t a good situation in New York, from early on, I guess, but you can’t go back,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen. You make the decision that you think is going to be good for you and you go from there.
“That’s the approach I took and I stuck with it.
“I mean, the last couple of years have been positive, too. The AHL is a good league and you can’t coast.
“But I didn’t want it to end that way. I had something to prove to myself and to everyone else.
“So I’m thankful and happy the Blues have given me another chance. I’m feeling good and looking forward to playing some games.”
Wade Redden, great player and even greater guy. Good luck to you in St Louis.
Wade is no doubt a first class guy, however I was less than impressed with him his last few years in Ottawa – that is where his slide started. It was just that NY didn’t notice it, until they acquired him. Happy 1,000th Wade!
Congratulations Wade, Our hockey team and our community have been blessed to have had the opportunity to know you .Great career amazing individual with an outstanding commitment to family and community. All our best in the years to follow and congratulations on an amazing accomplishment….1000 games.
I second your comments Mark…Wade was a fantastic rep for the Ottawa Senators and I also congratulate him on his commitment to his work ethic and community spirit!
Very happy to see Wade get the second chance he so richly deserves. Congratulations on the 1000 game milestone!
I agree Wade is a great guy. I am very happy that he is getting the 1000 games.
So glad to see Wade back in “The Show.” He gave a number of great years to our Senators. I was so very sorry to see him leave Ottawa. My family and I have season tickets to the Binghamton Senators, so we did have several chances to see Wade in the AHL when he visited Bingo. He played with intensity and carried himself like a true professional. How do you spell class ……. REDDEN. Best wishes to you Wade. Good luck in St. Louis. And we’re glad to see you’ve already netted several goals. Congrats on a truly great achievement in reaching 1,000 games played in the NHL.
All the best Wade. Everyone’s behind you here in Ottawa…
Wade Redden is one of the nicest people I have ever met, congradulations on your upcoming 1,000 th game and Good Luck this season and beyond.
Hey Wade congratulations, couldn’t happen to a better and nicer guy. You still belong in the NHL and only a bad situation in New York prevented you from still being in the NHL. Will definitely go and see the game if you come to Ottawa. You are very well respected and missed very much by the Ottawa fans.
You all have to be kidding! His contributions off the ice and in the locker room aside, doesn’t anyone remember the vast quantity of poor plays and turnovers in the Sens end he made? GiveItAwayde Redden? His moves would be shining examples of how-not-to’s in the defenceman Top 10′s Worst of All Time. Tortorella saw the truth in his very hot / very cold consistancy. And trading him an keeping him and trading Chara back in the day? He had a great agent to convince the Sens brass to leave him on the squad.. Come on people!
Congratulations on your upcoming 1000th game. You were one great player to watch here in Ottawa and still miss you. Again, congrats
Congrats. to you Wade you are my favorite player and missed you from the Senators line up, very happy you will play your 1,000 th. game in the NHL.
Good Luck In The 1000 Game.
Congradulations Wade on getting to 1000, thanks for all the great years in Ottawa. I always thought you are a great player and first class and maybe you will end up in Ottawa to finish off your career.