Redden signs with New York Rangers

Offensive defenceman Wade Redden, who twicerefused to waive his no-trade contract when asked by the Ottawa Senators last season, has signed with the New York Rangers.

The Rangers agreed to a six-year deal, worth $6.5 million US a year for the free agent.

New York also locked up defenceman Michal Roszival, who passed on free agency to sign a $20-million, four-year extension.

Redden, a Lloydminster, Sask. native, struggled in 2007-2008, scoring just six goals and adding 32 assists in 80 games, with a plus-11 rating.

He has 101 goals and 309 assists in 838 career regular-season games, all with Ottawa.

Redden's best all-around year was in 2005-06 when he recorded 10 goals and 40 assists in 65 games, with a plus-35 rating.

Drafted second overall in the 1995 NHL entry draft by the New York Islanders and immediately sent to Ottawa as part of a multi-player deal that saw Bryan Berard go the other way, Redden represented Canada in 2005 at both the world championships and the World Cup, and at the 2006 Olympics.

New York Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather also announced Tuesday the club has agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent forward Patrick Rissmiller.

Rissmiller, who played college hockey at Holy Cross in Massachusetts, found his way to a successful NHL career despite being an undrafted free agent.

Now 29, he appeared in 79 games with the San Jose Sharks last season, registering eight goals and nine assists for 17 points, along with 30 penalty minutes. He ranked sixth on the team with 111 hits, and tied for eighth on the team with 17 even-strength points.

He established career-highs in penalty minutes (30) and shots (119), and he set acareer-high with his eighth goal of the season on March 18 at Los Angeles. In addition, he posted three multiple-point games during the season, including his first career multiple-goal game on Jan. 5 vs. Columbus (two goals).

He also skated in eight post-season contests with San Jose, registering four penalty minutes and 13 shots.

The 6-4, 220-pounder has appeared in 180 NHL matches with San Jose, recording 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points, along with 60 penalty minutes. He established career-highs during the 2006-07 season with 15 assists and 22 points.

He had a personal-best, three assists on Nov. 9at Los Angeles. He also notched goals in consecutive games for the first time in his career on March 30 and April 1, 2007.

The Sharks posted a 7-0-0 record in games he scored a goal that season.

Additionally, Rissmiller has skated in 30 career post-season games, collecting three goals and four assists for seven points, along with 10 penalty minutes. In the 2007 playoffs, he set personal highs with three assists and four points. Rissmiller made his NHL debut on Nov. 13, 2003 vs. St. Louis.

The Belmont, Mass.,native was originally signed by San Jose as a free agent on June 30, 2003.