Wade Redden: Detroit Red Wings Considering Adding the Veteran Defenseman

The Detroit Red Wings are looking for a boost on defense and Wade Redden could be the answer.

The 35-year-old defenseman was placed on waivers Wednesday by the New York Rangers, who intend to buy out his contract. Redden has spent the last two seasons in the AHL and has two years remaining on a six-year, $39 million contract. 

The NHL and NHLPA reached an agreement Tuesday that allows teams to use one compliance buyout prior to the start of this season, according to TSN.ca. Players like Wade Redden and Scott Gomez, who otherwise would have sat out this season waiting to be bought out in the summer, now have an opportunity to play. 

There is little doubt that Redden will clear waivers and be bought out in a matter of days, giving teams an opportunity to sign the blueliner just in time for the start of the season. 

According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, the Red Wings are considering adding Redden. 

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The Detroit Red Wings want to improve their defense and are looking at Wade Redden as a possible solution. 

The decision is being discussed internally, especially with assistant coach Tom Renney, who coached Redden in 2008-09 with the New York Rangers. 

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Redden was selected second overall by the New York Islanders in the 1995 NHL entry draft, but was traded to the Ottawa Senators where he’s spent most of his career. The 6’2”, 205-pound defenseman has scored 106 goals and 344 assists for 450 points in 994 games. 

After losing Nicklas Lidstrom and Brad Stuart in the offseason, adding an experienced defenseman would be good for Detroit. However, Redden hasn’t played in the NHL since the 2009-10 season, at which point his performance was declining. 

It’s hard to predict how much of an impact Redden can have, but if the price is right it may be worth it for Red Wings, who have nearly $9 million in available cap space. 

Detroit currently has seven defensemen under contract. They include Niklas Kronwall, Kyle Quincey, Jonathan Ericsson, Ian White, Carlo Colaiacovo, Jakub Kindl and Brendan Smith.