What Will Happen With Wade Redden?

**RGM81** · 09-27-2010, 09:53 AM

Assuming that he clears waivers today (we'll know in a couple hours) Wade Redden will be assigned to the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford. Whether or not he accepts the assignment is a $26M question.

Redden currently has 4 years remaining on his contract which pays him 6.5 million dollars annually. If he accepts the demotion, he will still be paid but the contract will not count against the Rangers' salary cap. If he refuses to report to Hartford, the Rangers are entitled to void the contract, making Redden an unrestricted free agent.

This would, I believe, be an unprecedented move in the post-lockout CBA era. I know that players have been buried in the minors before, but none have refused to report and thus had their contracts voided, as I can recall.

Word is that Redden's agent is trying to get him a deal in Europe similar to Cristobal Huet, wherein the player can still play at a professional level and have the contract come off the books for a year.

Though his skills have declined since leaving Ottawa, Redden has been viewed in the context of his contract rather than his actual performance. If he does become a UFA, there are bound to be teams out there willing to take him on at a greatly reduced rate. The Islanders desperately need help after the injury to Mark Streit, so that could be an option.

Discuss.

**zunato** · 09-27-2010, 11:24 AM

The Islanders would be a good option considering they have around $20 mil in cap space. The problem is do they want Reddens contract with four years remaining. They will have the entry contracts of Okposo and Bailey to deal with after this year and Tavares afterr next year. That could be a lot of $$$$ tied up in those three players.

I thought that Nylander last year rejected going to the AHL and ended up playing in Europe for the remainder of the year. The Rangers might have a move like Huets already done. I remember reading that the Hawks could not "officially" loan Huet till the second week of training camp and until he clears waivers.

**30ranfordfan** · 09-27-2010, 11:58 AM

There's been rumors that he could be flipped to Edmonton, for Souray. As desperate as the Oilers are to rid themselves of Souray's deal - Reddan's deal is so bad, I don't think they'd even do that (paying Souray 5.5 for two years, to not play, is still better than paying Reddan 6.5 for four years to actually play).

I can't see him refusing to report though. Maybe he'd prefer to be loaned to Europe instead of going to the AHL...... but 26 million is WAY too much money for him to refuse to do anything.

**RGM81** · 09-27-2010, 12:24 PM

That's just it - two awful deals that won't magically be remedied by a change of scenery. Souray's pretty much done as a top-shelf offensive defenceman--never was much of a defensive defenceman--and Redden will never be able to live up to his contract.

I also agree that $26M is a lot of money to leave on the table just to salvage his pride. Granted, if he does renege and thus breaks the contract, he's free to sign for less money elsewhere. That will allow him to still play in the NHL without the 800-pound gorilla of a contract following him every time he steps on the ice. But still, $26M...