Wade Redden Trade Rumors

But what if Marc Staal remains unsigned through camp, certainly a possibility given the utter lack of progress in the talks with the unsigned Group II free agent who may not be as antsy to get in as Brandon Dubinsky was last year?

What if Steve Eminger, too expensive at $1.125 million to be a seventh, is no stiffer than he was for Anaheim last season when he was a healthy scratch 18 times for a team that didn't make the playoffs?

What if John Tortorella is no more impressed by Matt Gilroy's work in his own end than he was last year, when the coach sat the rookie the final eight games of the year in favor of Anders Eriksson?

And what if Redden, who knows his NHL career is on the line here, who knows that if he is waived through the league in September he will never get back, what if Redden plays assertive, sharp hockey beginning with the first scrimmage and maintains his level? What if Redden outplays just about every defenseman in camp?

Then the Rangers will be in a state of severe stress. Then, incorporating that $6.5 million onto the season cap would mean that Sather would have to slash the roster in order to leave enough space to match on Staal, who at that point would become a very inviting target for an offer sheet.

Rest assured there isn't a single Rangers' ghost roster that includes Redden, who has been a ghost his two seasons in New York. But what if this 33-year-old, 13-year NHL veteran, who was told at his exit meetings that he would have to earn his spot on Broadway or face exile to the minors, has dedicated this summer to training for a last stand?

What if Staal isn't there? What if Eminger is no better than he was last year (and why would he be)? What if Tortorella doesn't believe in Gilroy?

What if -- don't laugh -- Redden plays well?

What then?

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