But I must digress, for the move does make the Penguins better for 2015-16. The Penguins signed the 38-year-old center to a one-year, 800,000 dollar deal on Thursday.
For those who don't know much about Matt Cullen, fear not, that is why I am here.
The 38-year-old Cullen is a 1200-plus game veteran of the National Hockey League. A native of Virginia, Minnesota, Cullen was a second round selection (35th overall) by the then Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the 1995 draft. He spent his first six NHL seasons in Anaheim, before moving to the Florida Panthers before the 2004 season long lockout.
Following the lockout, Cullen found a home in Carolina, being signed by then Canes GM and current Penguins GM Jim Rutherford. Cullen's best year was the 2005-06 Stanley Cup campaign for the Canes, when he 25 goals and 49 points.
Cullen spent the next decade playing for the likes of the Canes, Rangers, Senators, Wild and Predators. He spent the last two seasons playing in Nashville.
Here are Cullen's career stats to date: 1212 games played, 219 goals and 626 points. Cullen is also a veteran of the playoffs as well, appearing in 74 career games and posting 12 goals and 41 points in that span.
What are the Pens Getting?
Let's look at the basics when it comes to Cullen:
- He stays relatively healthy. Cullen has played over 70 games 10 times in his career and over 60 games 18 times, including playing in all but 6 games during the strike shortened 2012-13 season.
- He produces points. Despite playing in a predominantly checking role with similar talent, Cullen has put up good stats over his career. He's posted over 40 points 7 times and posted 39 points just two years ago. Last season, he put up 25 points in 62 games for the Preds.
- He plays the PK. The Penguins traded or let walk almost every forward that played on the penalty kill last season. While Dupuis is a holdover and Fehr is expected to play that role, the addition of Cullen helps out the PK as well. He has experience there and he will be counted to contribute to that facet of the game.
- Great in the circle. Matt Cullen's 54% faceoff winning percentage would have led the 2014-15 Penguins. He is very good in the circle and that will benefit a team that really struggled in that area last season.
- He's a veteran presence with playoff experience. I don't hold as much stock in this as I used to, but I still think it's important to have a veteran forward with a lot of playoff experience. Cullen has 74 playoff games under his belt and has played well in those games. He had a goal and assist in the Preds first round loss to the Hawks this season while playing on the fourth line. The Pens didn't get any production from their fourth line in their loss to the Rags.
My Overall Thoughts on the Move
Look, I love the veteran presence, the career numbers and his faceoff percentage. That is all great. He has had a successful career and he does add to this team.
However, I wanted to see this team get younger. They have done that on the blue line, but they aren't doing it in the forwards corps. I also don't think he is another Craig Adams. He's better than Adams, no doubt, as he produced more points last year than Adams has the last four seasons combined.
That being said, I want to see the Pens trust some of these young forwards. Give Sundqvist a shot, Wilson, Rust, Sheary etc. This move essentially keeps Sundqvist from the NHL this year. It keeps guys like Wilson and Sheary from showing what they are made of in an extended look. Is that best for the team in 2015-16? Perhaps not, but it would benefit the organization maybe as early as 2016-17.
The Pens lack of faith in their young players is alarming to me and despite this being for the best for this season, it is preventing the growth of the few talented forward prospects we have. Say what you will, but I would like to see the Pens rely on some youth a little more.
For 2015-16, the Cullen signing makes the Penguins a better team. Cullen will be a reliable fourth line center and will allow Fehr to slot in on the wing for the third line or even have Bonino on the wing in the top six. It gives Johnston and staff flexibility in the lineup, which is a plus. So for the time being, I am on board with the move, but I'm not tickled pink by it either.
Regardless of my feelings, Pens Nation, welcome Matt Cullen to Pittsburgh!