Wade Redden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wade Redden
Redden with the New York Rangers in 2008
Born	(1977-06-12) June 12, 1977 (age 48) Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Ottawa Senators New York Rangers St. Louis Blues Boston Bruins
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 1995 New York Islanders
Playing career	1996–2013

Wade Redden is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was a talented defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for many years. Most of his career was spent with the Ottawa Senators. He also played for the New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Boston Bruins. Wade Redden represented Canada in international competitions several times, winning gold medals at the World Junior Championships and the World Cup of Hockey. He was also chosen to be an NHL All-Star twice. Today, he works as a development coach for the Ottawa Senators, helping young players grow.

Who is Wade Redden?

Wade Redden was born on June 12, 1977, in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada. He grew up in a place called Hillmond, Saskatchewan. Wade is of Métis heritage. He went to school in Hillmond for his early years. Later, he moved to Brandon, Manitoba, to finish high school while playing junior hockey. He has an older sister, Nikki, and an older brother, Bart.

Junior Hockey Star

Wade Redden started playing minor hockey in his local area. He then joined the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the 1993–94 season. In his first year, he was named the WHL's rookie of the year, which is a big award for new players! His team, the Wheat Kings, made it to the Memorial Cup tournament twice. Wade also played for the Canadian national junior team in 1995 and 1996, winning gold medals at the World Junior Hockey Championships both times.

Becoming an Ottawa Senator

Wade was first chosen by the New York Islanders as the second overall pick in the 1995 NHL entry draft. However, he never played for them. Instead, he was part of a big trade that sent him to the Ottawa Senators in January 1996.

He joined the Senators for the 1996–97 season. Wade scored his very first NHL goal on his first shot! This happened on October 5, 1996, against the Montreal Canadiens. He was named NHL Rookie of the Month in April 1997 and helped the Senators reach the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in their modern history.

Key Moments with the Senators

By the 1999–2000 season, Wade Redden was a very important player for the Senators. He was named an alternate captain, a role he held for nine seasons. He faced a challenge when he missed the 2000 playoffs due to an ankle injury. Despite this, he kept improving, playing over 25 minutes per game and making many assists. After the 2001 playoffs, he played for Team Canada's senior team for the first time.

In the 2001–02 season, Wade was selected for the NHL All-Star Game. The next season, he had many games where he scored multiple points. In the 2003–04 season, he scored a personal best of 17 goals, which helped him get chosen for the 2004 NHL All-Star Game. He also won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

During the 2005–06 season, Wade missed some games to be with his family during a difficult time. He still had a fantastic season, scoring a career-high 50 points and having one of the best plus-minus ratings in the NHL. Because of his great performance, he was chosen to play for Team Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Redden with the Ottawa Senators, 2007.

After the 2005–06 season, the Senators decided to keep Wade Redden, signing him to a new contract. This made him one of the highest-paid players on the team. It was noted that Redden, being of Métis descent, was the highest-paid Indigenous player in the NHL at that time. The 2006–07 NHL season was challenging at first with a new defensive partner, but they eventually became a strong duo. Wade played a big part in the Senators' journey to the Stanley Cup Finals that year, where they eventually lost.

In the 2007–08 season, there were many rumors about Wade being traded, but he stayed with the team. He played his 800th career NHL game on January 10, 2008. Wade had expressed a desire to stay in Ottawa, even saying he would take less money to do so. However, after the season, it became clear he would be leaving the Senators.

Moving to Other NHL Teams

Time with the New York Rangers

On July 1, 2008, Wade Redden signed a six-year contract with the New York Rangers. While playing for the Rangers, Wade faced some challenges, and his performance became a topic of discussion. In 2010, the Rangers decided to assign him to their minor league team, the Hartford Wolf Pack (which later became the Connecticut Whale). This meant he became the highest-paid player ever in the American Hockey League (AHL). Wade considered retiring but decided to keep playing for the Whale, even serving as their captain in the 2011–12 season.

Redden with the Connecticut Whale in 2011

During a time when the NHL had a temporary work stoppage in 2012–13, Wade's contract situation changed. After the work stoppage ended, he became a free agent for the first time since 2008.

Playing for St. Louis and Boston

On January 18, 2013, Wade Redden signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues. He played his first NHL game since April 2010 on January 24. He scored his first goal back a couple of days later and played his 1,000th career NHL game on February 7, which is a huge milestone for any hockey player!

Later that season, on April 3, he was traded to the Boston Bruins. The Bruins hoped he would play well with his former teammate, Zdeno Chára. Wade scored one goal and one assist in six regular season games with the Bruins. In the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored a goal and an assist in his first playoff game with Boston.

On January 9, 2014, Wade Redden announced his retirement from professional ice hockey. He played 1,023 NHL games in total, which is an amazing achievement!

Life After Playing Hockey

After retiring as a player, Wade Redden continued to be involved in hockey. On June 27, 2016, he joined the Nashville Predators organization. His job was to help evaluate young players and guide them as they transitioned to the NHL.

More recently, on July 11, 2022, Wade Redden was named a development coach for his former team, the Ottawa Senators. In this role, he helps young players improve their skills and reach their full potential.

Off the Ice: Wade's Personal Life

While playing for the Ottawa Senators, Wade Redden was known for his charity work. He sponsored a special suite at the arena called "Wade's World." This suite was reserved for children who were very sick, giving them a chance to enjoy a hockey game. He also supported the 65 Roses Club, which raises money for cystic fibrosis research.

In 2015, Wade was honored by the Brandon Wheat Kings, his junior team, for his achievements. He was recognized as one of the WHL's top 125 players of all time.

Wade Redden is married and has three daughters. During the off-season, he and his family spend time at their home near Kelowna, British Columbia.

Awards and Achievements

Wade Redden earned many awards and honors throughout his career:

• Junior Hockey:
  • Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (WHL Rookie of the Year): 1994
  • WHL East First All-Star Team: 1996
  • WHL East Second All-Star Team: 1995
  • Memorial Cup All-Star Team: 1996
• National Hockey League (NHL):
  • NHL All-Star: 2002, 2004
  • Plus-Minus Award: 2006 (shared with Michal Rozsíval)
• New York Rangers:
  • Victoria Cup winner: 2008
• International:
  • Best Defenceman at the 2005 IIHF World Championship

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver	2005 Vienna
World Cup of Hockey
Gold	2004 Canada
World Junior Championships
Gold	1995 Alberta
Gold	1996 Massachusetts