Former Ottawa Senator Wade Redden retires after 14 NHL seasons

Ottawa Senators defencemen Wade Redden (foreground) and Brian Lee stand with their heads down during the national anthems before their fourth game of the first round of NHL Stanley Cup playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Ottawa Wednesday April 16, 2008. (Tom Hanson / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

TORONTO -- Former Ottawa Senators all-star defenceman and World Cup of Hockey gold medallist Wade Redden retired Thursday after a 14-year NHL career.

Redden played a total of 1,023 regular-season games with Ottawa, the New York Rangers, St. Louis and Boston. He finished with 457 points (109 goals, 348 assists) and a plus-160 rating over his career.

"I would first and foremost like to thank my family and friends for their unconditional love and support," Redden said in a statement released by the NHL Players' Association. "I would also like to thank my teammates, coaches and staff for all the great memories created throughout the years. To the fans, I appreciate all your support throughout my career.

"Playing in the National Hockey League has been a dream come true and I feel very proud and privileged to have played more than 1,000 games in 14 NHL seasons."

Redden also had 49 points (13-36) in 106 career playoff games.

The native of Lloydminster, Sask., was drafted second overall by the New York Islanders in the 1995 draft but never played for the team. He was dealt to the Senators along with goaltender Damian Rhodes for goalie Don Beaupre, forward Martin Straka and the rights to defenceman Bryan Berard on Jan, 23, 1996.

Redden played in all 82 games as a rookie with Ottawa in the 1996-97 season, scoring six goals and adding 24 assists.

In 2001-02, he had 34 points, a plus-22 rating and played in the all-star game. The following season, Redden had 45 points and averaged a career-high in ice-time at 25:24.

In 2003-04, he set a career-high in goals with 17 and was selected to his second career all-star game but did not play due to an illness.

He was a key part of Ottawa's run to the Stanley Cup final in 2007. After playing the first 11 seasons of his NHL career in the nation's capital, the New York Rangers signed Redden to a US$39-million, six-year contract on July 1, 2008.

Redden's play began to decline after signing the contract, and the Rangers placed him on waivers before the 2010-11 season in an effort to fit under the salary cap. Redden never played another game for the team, spending two seasons with their AHL affiliate before the Rangers used a compliance buyout on his contract.

Redden made a return to the NHL for the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, signing a $800,000, one-year deal with St. Louis. He was traded to Boston at the trade deadline and played five playoff games for the Bruins as they advanced to the Stanley Cup final.

Redden represented Canada several times and was a member of the 2004 team that won the last World Cup of Hockey. He also played for Canada at the 2006 Turin Olympics.

He won gold with Canada at the 1995 and 1996 world junior hockey championships and silver at the 2005 world hockey championship.