Wade Redden

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Lore & Background

Born on June 12, 1977, in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Redden, who is Métis, grew up in Hillmond, Saskatchewan. He played minor hockey with the teams at Hillmond High School, and the Mid West Red Wings. After that, he played one year with the Lloydminster Blazers, before joining the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings for the 1993–94 season. In his first year of major junior hockey with Brandon, he was awarded the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for WHL rookie of the year honours. The Wheat Kings made it to two Memorial Cup appearances, in 1995 and 1996, whilst Redden was a member of the team. He was also a member of the 1995 and 1996 Canadian teams at the World Junior Hockey Championships, both teams winning gold medals. 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 from the 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. Redden would be named NHL Rookie of the Month for April 1997, and was an important part of the team's drive to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs that season; The appearance was the first in modern Senators' history. By the 1999–2000 season, Redden was an important part of the team. On October 2, 1999, he was named alternate captain of the Senators, a position he eventually held for nine seasons. Near the end of the season, however, he suffered an ankle injury, forcing him to miss the 2000 playoffs. The following year Redden continued his improvement, averaging over 25 minutes of ice time per game, scoring 37 assists, recording a three-point game as well as several two-point games. After the Senators were eliminated from the 2001 playoffs, he was named to Team Canada's senior team for the first time for the 2001 IIHF World Championship. The next year, 2001–02, Redden was named to the 2002 NHL All-Star Game to represent the Senators. In the next season, he would have nine multi-point games in 2002–03 and would set a personal best of 17 goals in the following 2003–04 season, which helped earn him a spot in the 2004 NHL All-Star Game. He was also named to the gold medal-winning Can

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 is a development coach of the Ottawa Senators. He played for the Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Boston Bruins in the NHL. He was a two-time NHL All-Star (2002, 2004). He won gold medals at the World Junior Championships (1995, 1996) and the World Cup of Hockey (2004). He was named to Team Canada for the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Did You Know?

• Redden was originally drafted second overall by the New York Islanders in 1995 but never played for them, being traded to the Senators in a three-team deal.
• He scored his first NHL goal on his first shot, against Jocelyn Thibault of the Montreal Canadiens on October 5, 1996.
• Redden was the highest paid aboriginal player in the NHL, being of Metis descent.
• He was named captain of the Connecticut Whale (AHL) in the 2011–12 season.