Redden had a strange start to his NHL career as he was a second overall pick but didn’t play for the team that drafted him. He was initially drafted by the New York Islanders but was traded to the Sens in January 1996. This was done because the first overall pick Bryan Berard refused to play for the Sens. Although it was frustrating at the time, this trade became a win for the Sens.
Redden first started playing for the Ottawa Senators in October of 1996. From then until he left the team in 2008 he was a part of the Sens blueline.