Zach Redmond

Lore & Background

Redmond was born in Houston, Texas, and moved to Traverse City, Michigan at age two. He is a triplet, with brother Alex and sister Meghan.

At age 15, he suffered a transient ischemic attack stroke and had to relearn how to walk and talk before returning to junior hockey. After playing college hockey at Ferris State University, he signed an entry-level contract with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2011. When the Thrashers relocated, his NHL rights transferred to the Winnipeg Jets.

Redmond scored his first NHL goal on February 7, 2013, a short-handed marker against James Reimer of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Just two weeks later, on February 21, 2013, he was rushed to a hospital in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area to repair a laceration to his right femoral artery and vein in his mid-thigh, suffered during the team's morning skate. He was expected to miss the remainder of the 2012–13 season, but by April 4 he resumed skating with teammates, with doctors and trainers describing his recovery pace as 'miraculous.' He was expected to be ready for training camp in September 2013.

Redmond returned to hockey in the 2013–14 season with the Jets' AHL affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps. He was recalled four times by Winnipeg, appearing in ten NHL games with three points. He was instrumental in helping St. John's reach their first Calder Cup Finals. After his entry-level contract expired, he signed with the Colorado Avalanche as a free agent in 2014.

In his first full NHL season, he finished third among Avalanche defensemen in scoring with five goals and 20 points in 59 games. He later played for the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres, and was named to the AHL Second All-Star Team in 2018. After three productive AHL seasons with the Rochester Americans, he moved to Germany's EHC München in 2020, winning the German championship in 2022–23. He retired from professional hockey in 2023 and accepted a player development coaching role with the Buffalo Sabres.

Reader's Guide

Zach Redmond's career is defined by resilience and a remarkable recovery from a life-threatening injury. The femoral artery and vein laceration he suffered during a morning skate in February 2013 could have ended his career, but his rapid return to skating within weeks and his eventual return to NHL play became a notable story of perseverance. Though his NHL tenure was limited by games-played requirements and injuries, he carved out a professional career spanning 12 seasons across North America and Europe. His most productive NHL season came with the Colorado Avalanche in 2014–15, where he recorded 20 points in 59 games.

Redmond also represented the United States at the 2015 World Championships, earning a bronze medal. His legacy includes helping the St. John's IceCaps reach the Calder Cup Finals and winning a German championship with EHC München. After retiring, he transitioned into a player development coaching role with the Buffalo Sabres, continuing his involvement in hockey.