The New York Rangers have put Wade Redden on waivers. It would be nice if some other team picked up his contract but no one will be doing Glen Sather that big of a favour. He will likely clear waivers and end up playing out his contract in the AHL.
Redden, 33, signed a six-year, $39 million contract with the Rangers as an unrestricted free agent from the Ottawa Senators in 2008. He was coming off a dreadful 2007-08 season in Ottawa.
By 2009, he was being called "atrocious" by everyone associated with the Rangers. Though at the right price, he could help someone in NHL. With the Rangers currently over the cap, his demise this preseason was predicted. Now it's just a matter of how Wade Redden will be a former New York Ranger.
The problem is that once again the large market teams are able to circumvent the salary cap. The intent of the collective agreement as it currently stands is any contract a team signed would be their problem for the life of that contract unless you could find someone to take it off your hands. Just like front-loaded contracts, burying contracts in the minors allows teams with deep pockets to buy their way out of problem contracts. A small market team could not afford this type of move. There is about $26 million left on that contract.
This is no different than Chicago unloading Critobal Huet's salary by transferring it to a team in Switzerland. Yet the NHL looks the other way.
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