New York Rangers likely won't find a taker on NHL trade market for defenseman Wade Redden: sources

Wade Redden spends all of last season in the AHL but has three years remaining on his contract with the New York Rangers, a burden the team would rather not shoulder.

Demoted Redden may bolt Rangers Rangers offense finally shows some fight For Tortorella, turnaround is kid stuff Redden slowly regaining form Wade's experience helps shore up blue line Redden ices any worries

If theRangersare hoping to draw inspiration from theChicago Blackhawks' trade of defensemanBrian Campbelland his albatross contract to theFlorida Panthersat the NHL draft over the weekend, they should be prepared for disappointment.

Multiple sources consider it unlikely thatGlen Satherwill be able to find a taker for 34-year-old blue-linerWade Redden, who spent all of last season in the AHL, to get his $6.5 million cap hit off the books. Redden has three years left on his contract.

"No chance," was the way one source put it to the Daily News, while another was hardly enthusiastic about the Blueshirts' chances of swinging a deal, noting that while Redden did шалят past season, Campbell had five goals, 22 assists and a plus-28 rating for the Blackhawks.

The 32-year-old Campbell, who was traded forRostislav Oleszon Friday night, is signed through 2015-16, with an annual salary of more than $7.1 million. His presence on the roster will help the Panthers reach the $48.3 million minimum team payroll next season, and Florida is not alone among teams that will need to take on big contracts to reach that level -ColoradoandPhoenixstand out as teams that might struggle to climb to the salary floor.

Despite the Coyotes' extensive history of deals with the Rangers, most recently the Michal Rozsival-Wojtek Wolski swap in January, there is no indication that GMDon Maloneywould want any part of Redden, who told The News in February that he would like to avoid spending another full season in the minors, and could void his contract to become a free agent if the Rangers send him back toConnecticut.

The Redden situation likely will not have a resolution until training camp, meaning that he will eat up the Rangers' entire 10% summer cap buffer, plus an additional $70,000. If the Rangers are able to buy outChris Drurybefore the NHL's window closes on Thursday, it would free up $3,333,333 for the pursuit of free agentcenter Brad Richardsand other upgrades.

Depending what the final numbers are on the new contracts of restricted free agentsArtem Anisimov,Brian Boyle,Ryan Callahan,Brandon DubinskyandMichael Sauer, the Rangers figure to have room for Richards, sparkplug veteran wingerRuslan Fedotenkoand one or two other additions, one of which Sather said on Saturday could be a defenseman.

Pending unrestricted free agentSteve Emingersaid at the end of the season that he would like to return to Broadway, but it is unclear if that feeling is mutual. It appears unlikely thatMatt Gilroy, who received an offer short of qualifying level, will remain with the Rangers.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com