St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - The St. Louis Blues and defenseman Wade Redden have agreed to a one-year contract worth $800,000.
Redden was bought out of the last two years of his contract with the New York Rangers earlier this week. He was set to earn $10 million over the next two seasons.
"Wade is a solid two-way defenseman," said Blues general manager Doug Armstrong in a statement Friday. "We believe his experience will complement and add stability to our defensive core."
Redden hasn't played in the NHL since the 2009-10 season with the Rangers. He totaled a mere five goals and 40 points in 156 games during his first two seasons with New York, which had signed him to a lucrative six-year deal as a free agent prior to the 2008-09 campaign. The Rangers kept him with the club's AHL affiliate in Connecticut the past two seasons. He notched 12 goals and 62 points in 119 games for the Whale.
The Rangers' decision to buy out the final two years of his deal was made easier after a "compliance buyout" clause was included in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement made official last week. The amount of the buyout will not count against the salary cap either this season or next.
Redden, a 35-year-old native of Saskatchewan, was selected second overall by the New York Islanders in the 1995 draft, but was traded to Ottawa in 1996 and spent his first 11 seasons with the Senators. The two-time All-Star has 106 goals and 450 points over 994 NHL games with the Senators and Rangers from 1996-2010.
In addition, Redden was also a member of Canada's 2004 World Cup championship team and the winner of the NHL's plus/minus award in 2006.
