A Message To Wade Redden

I like to consider myself a good sports fan.  I am not a fair weather fan (hello Bills) and I support players of my favorite teams almost no matter what.  However, I have one exception; Wade Redden.

Wade Redden is currently in the second year of a 5 year 39 million dollar contract.  Absolutely anyone that knows anything about hockey knows this is one of the worst contracts in the history of the NHL.  The Rangers have a few contracts on the books that are rough on the cap (Drury at a little over 7 million a year, Rozsival at 5 million a year) but Wade Redden is by far the worst and the longest contract on the team. 

Wade is making 6.5 million dollars per year.  This year's salary cap is 56.8 million dollars.  So Wade is raking in 11.44% of the team's possible salary.  In comparison, Marc Staal, arguably the team's best defenseman, is making 826,667 dollars, or 1.46% of the team's possible salary.

Redden is in the top 10 in terms of highest salaries in the NHL and most teams would have a problem finding a place for him besides on their AHL affiliates.  There's no doubt that the only reason Redden is playing right now is because of his contract.

This season, he has 1 goal and 8 assists in 50 games with a +2 rating.  Again, for comparison, Marc Staal has 5 goals and 16 assists with an even rating in 57 games.

Redden's problems go beyond his stats.  He simply isn't a smart player and he is physically weak.  I wait for disaster every time he is on the ice.  His teammates usually have to pick him up in the defensive end and he prevents breakouts by mishandling the puck way too often.

If Redden was making 3 million a season I'd be grumbling.  At top ten NHL money I expect a Chara-like defensemen, not someone who would have trouble making the Albany River Rats' roster.

Because of Redden's contract, the Rangers are having trouble making moves to help propel the team into a sure playoff position.  There is little room under the cap, and Redden is impossible to move because of his play.  He is single handedly preventing the team from being better.  I honestly don't know how he can walk around the locker room everyday and feel like a New York Ranger.

Redden should legitamately ask to restructure his contract to 1.5 million a year.