Now, Sather may have finally solved that problem. Or he might have created an even bigger one.

Yesterday, the Rangers signed former Ottawa Senators defenseman Wade Redden to a six year contract that will pay the 31-year-old an average of $6.5 million per season. That’s a lot of money to pay a guy who, by all accounts, has been on the decline for two seasons. Especially when you consider that, just hours earlier, the team re-signed their own defenseman, Michal Rozsival, to a four-year, $20 million dollar contract.

Twice an All-Star (in 2002 and 2004), Redden’s stock in Ottawa dropped dramatically over the last two seasons. Some point to the death of Redden’s mother, Pat, as the beginning of his decline. Pat passed away after struggling with brain cancer in April of 2006. Others point to the seemingly wrong decision made by the Senators’ brass in choosing to re-sign Redden while allowing Zdeno Chara to walk away and sign in Boston before the 2006-07 season as the event that led to Redden’s downfall.

Over the last two seasons, the Senators, in very public fashion, tried to deal Wade Redden a number of times, but Redden refused to wave his no-trade clause, claiming that his desire was to win a Stanley Cup in Ottawa. Those instances probably didn’t do much for his on-ice performance, either.

Now, some will say that all Redden needs is a change of scenery, and that may very well be true. In fact, I actually feel the same way. It’s also been mentioned that Redden has a good relationship with assistant coach Perry Pearn, once an assistant with the Senators. Who knows? Maybe he can find his game. I sure hope he does. I’ve seen Redden play a lot of times, and he used to be a pretty good defenseman. He was solid in his own end and adept at moving the puck up the ice. He’s certainly a better option on the power play than Rozsival, too.

But, and this is a pretty big but, what if the change of scenery doesn’t do it? If Redden can’t return to form, what then? If this guy continues to play the way he has the last two seasons, then this will turn out to be a humongous blunder. Most of the times I saw this guy play the last year or two, he was skating like a zombie, avoiding physical play and just showing a total lack of emotion and desire.

This guy is going to be earning $6.5 million a year until he’s 37. He’s under contract through the 2013-14 season. That’s a long time to pay a guy when you’re not sure he’ll ever be the player he once was.

But if you’re going to go out on a limb and take that risk, why would you also overpay Rozsival? It doesn’t make sense. Rozsival is a decent player, and at the age of 28, he’s just entering his prime, but he’s a second pairing defenseman. He’s not worth $5 million a year. No way. He’s not a good option to run the power play, he’s not particularly great defensively and he’s prone to making horrendous gaffes with the puck. We’ve all seen Rozy cough up the biscuit at the most inopportune time on more than one occassion. Rozsival’s blunders will be giving Henrik Lundqvist nightmares for four more years.

Do you really need both of these guys, especially when you’re already paying Fedor Tyutin almost $3 million a season, too? Not in my eyes.

Plus, you’ve already got Chris Drury, Scott Gomez and Lundqvist earning about $7 million a year. Each. So, for the next four years, when Rozsival’s contract expires, this team will be paying about $33 million dollars to five players. In case you haven’t heard, this year’s salary cap is set at $56.7 million.

Meanwhile, with Sean Avery signing in Dallas (more on this later), and the questions surrounding Mats Sundin and Jaromir Jagr, what the Rangers will do with their forwards remains unclear. So far, they’ve signed Patrick Rissmiller and Aaron Voros, a couple of third or fourth liners from the San Jose Sharks and Minnesota Wild, respectively. Neither figures to light the lamp very much, though they may prove to be affordable replacements for Avery.

This all leads me to believe that the Rangers are planning to make a trade. This is merely speculation on my part, but I just don’t see them standing pat, whether they sign Sundin or bring back Jagr or whatever they decide to do with that whole thing.

I can see the Blueshirts packaging a guy like Tyutin and his salary, along with a Nigel Dawes or a Petr Prucha and perhaps a prospect or draft pick for an upgrade on forward. I thought they might pursue Michael Ryder, but he signed last night with the Boston Bruins.

All in all, a lot of questions remain for this team. But look at it this way, at least one thing is clear.

The Rangers re-signed Steve Valiquette to be their backup goaltender next year.

It’s a relief, I know.

The Wolf Pack have won a season-high five straight games, after sweeping three games in three days this past weekend.  The Pack upped their record against Worcester to 3-0 with a 4-2 road victory on Friday, and then scored the final six goals of the game, including four in the third period, after having fallen behind Springfield 2-0 in Saturday’s home game.  The 6-2 margin represented the Wolf Pack’s most decisive victory of the season.  On Sunday at the Hartford Civic Center, the Pack outlasted the Portland Pirates by a score of 5-3.  Nigel Dawes notched the Wolf Pack’s first hat trick of the season, and added an assist, in Saturday’s win and totaled 3-3-6 in the three games.  Miika Wiikman improved his AHL record to 6-0-0 by stopping 79 out of 86 total shots in the three victories.  At 16-7-0-1 for 33 points, the Pack stand second in the Atlantic Division, three points out of first place.
This week:
The Wolf Pack make their first visit of the year to Providence on Wednesday (7:05) to take on the Atlantic Division-leading Bruins.  The Lowell Devils invade the Hartford Civic Center Friday (7:00) on Guida’s Family Value Night, and the Wolf Pack travel to Worcester for a 7:05 game on Saturday night.

Tuesday, December 4^th – “Wolf Pack Confidential”, at the M&M Restaurant at the Hilton Hartford, on

            ESPN Radio 1410

This week’s edition of the Wolf Pack’s weekly Tuesday-night talk show, hosted by Bob Crawford, features Wolf Pack defenseman Ivan Baranka and assistant coach Pat Boller as scheduled guests.  The show airs live from the M&M Restaurant at the Hilton Hartford, located at 315 Trumbull St. in downtown Hartford, from 7:00-8:00 PM.  Fans are welcome to be on hand at M&M for an exclusive opportunity to ask questions and speak one-on-one with the guests.  Wolf Pack Confidential can be heard live on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

Wednesday, December 5^th at Providence (Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence), 7:05 p.m.
·         The Bruins lead the Atlantic Division, and sport the best record in the AHL, at 17-3-2-0 for 36 points, three points ahead of the Wolf Pack.
·         This is the Pack’s first trip of the year to Providence, but the two teams have already clashed twice in Hartford, with the Bruins scoring a pair of one-goal wins.
·         Pascal Pelletier leads the Providence offense with 11-12-23.
·         Radio – live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410, and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Network!  Go to www.harfordwolfpack.com for details.
 

Friday, December 7^th vs. Lowell at the Hartford Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.
·         Being a Friday night, it’s Guida’s Family Value Night.  Fans can purchase Family Value Night packages that include tickets, hot dogs or pizza slices, sodas and a Wolf Pack souvenir and start as low as $39 per family.  To purchase your Family Value Night pack, call the Wolf Pack ticket office at 860-548-2000.
·         This game will feature a winter accessories drive, with the Wolf Pack collecting donations from fans of gently-used winter-weather essentials such as hats, gloves, scarves, and new white tube socks, to benefit area citizens in need of warm clothing.
·         This is the third meeting of the year between the Wolf Pack and Devils, and the Pack have swept the first two.
·         At 8-11-2-1 for 19 points, Lowell is tied for fifth in the Atlantic Division.  The Devils have at least a point in four of their last five games (2-1-1-1).
·         Petr Vrana leads the Lowell squad in points with 4-16-20, and Noah Clarke, with 10-6-16, is the Devils’ top goal-scorer
·         For all Wolf Pack Wednesday, Friday and Sunday home games, college students and members of the military showing ID at the Hartford Civic Center box office can purchase tickets at the special discount rate of $10 each (limit four tickets per ID).
·         Radio – live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410, and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Network!  Go to www.harfordwolfpack.com for details.
Saturday, December 8^th at Worcester (DCU Center), 7:05 p.m.
·         The Sharks (8-9-1-1, 18 pts.) have fallen into the cellar of the Atlantic Division, after winning only one of their last seven games (1-5-0-1).
·         The Wolf Pack are 3-0-0-0 vs. the San Jose farmhands this season, and 2-0-0-0 at Worcester.
·         Mike Iggulden, the Sharks’ top offensive threat, has 11-11-22 in 19 games on the year and has scored a goal in each of the three games against the Wolf Pack this season.
·         Radio – live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410, and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com, or watch on B2 Network!  Go to www.harfordwolfpack.com for details.
 

Recent Transactions:
Mike Busto – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) November
27^th.
Bruce Graham – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) November
27^th.
 

Practice:
All Wolf Pack practices are open to the media at the Hartford Civic Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell.  As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 246-7825 before attending a practice.
Tue., December 4          11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Champions Skating Center
Wed., December 5         10:00 – 10:30 AM, Champions Skating Center (Game at Providence)
Thurs., December 6        11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Champions Skating Center
Fri., December 7            10:00 – 10:30 AM, Hartford Civic Center (Game vs. Lowell)
Sat., December 8           Game at Worcester
Sun., December 9          No practice
Mon., December 10        11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Hartford Civic Center
 

Pack Tracks:

Wolf Pack players Brodie Dupont and Michael Sauer are scheduled to appear at the FYE location in Avon (375 West Main St., 860-677-5795) this Tuesday, December 4^th from 4:00 – 6:00 PM, to help promote the release of 96.5 TIC’s Acoustic Café Volume 7, the proceeds from which benefit the Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation.  Acoustic Café Volume 7 features exclusive performances by Daughtry, KT Tunstall, Lifehouse, Avril Lavigne, Mat Kearney, Bowling for Soup, The Fray, Collective Soul and Mandy Moore.  The CD costs only $9.65 and is available at the Wolf Pack store at Hartford 21, Strawberries and FYE stores and on-line at www.965tic.com.  Each CD also includes a voucher redeemable for a free ticket to a Wednesday or Sunday Wolf Pack home game.

 

At the Wolf Pack’s home game Saturday, December 15^th against the Manchester Monarchs, there will be a Teddy Bear Toss when the Wolf Pack scores its first goal of the game.  Fans are asked to bring soft toys, which will be donated to local charitable organizations.  Also on December 15^th, the first 5,000 fans will receive a free Wolf Pack ski cap.
The Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation will be holding its annual Bowl-a-Thon to benefit Special Olympics Connecticut Eastern Region on Sunday, December 16^th at AMF Silver Lanes in East Hartford.  Teams of four bowlers raise pledges to bowl alongside a Wolf Pack player.  Space is limited, so interested participants are urged to call soon for more information or to sign up.  Call Danielle Nardi at the Wolf Pack office at (860) 246-7825, ext. 350.
Individual tickets for Wolf Pack games are on sale now at the Hartford Civic Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations including Macy’s at the Buckland Hills Mall and at the Westfarms Mall.  Tickets may also be charged by phone at (860) 525-4500, (203) 744-8100, (203) 624-0033 or (413) 733-2500 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com.  Season tickets, five, 10 and 20 game packages and group tickets are also available.  Contact 860-548-2000 for more details.