The Pittsburgh Penguins brought back a veteran that was a big part of their Stanley Cup win. Centre Matt Cullen has re-signed with the Penguins on a one-year deal worth $1 million.
WELCOME BACK, CULLEN! The #Pens have re-signed forward Matt Cullen to a one-year contract: https://t.co/sqRCFIuVenpic.twitter.com/04qwxL4F2C
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 17, 2016
Matt Cullen Signs One-Year Deal
Cullen is coming off a productive season with the Penguins and was one of Pittsburgh’s most consistent players. He tallied 16 goals and 16 assists through 82 games. He was just one of three Penguins to not miss a regular season game.
His best play came towards the end of the season where he scored five goals and added five assists in the team’s final 11 games. The 16 goals were his highest total since 2009.
The forward’s success continued into the playoffs, scoring the game-winning goal in two of the team’s four wins against the New York Rangers in the opening round. This came after scoring four game-winners during the regular season. He would finish the playoffs with six points in 24 playoff games to help win his second Stanley Cup.
“It’s been kind of an interesting process,” Cullen said last month. “We’re kind of working with Pittsburgh for quite a while and all along the intent was to get back to Pittsburgh.”
The veteran forward was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 1996 NHL Draft. He spent five and a half seasons with the team where he produced 65 goals and 135 assists. He would go on to play for six other teams before signing in Pittsburgh in 2015.
Cullen’s NHL career spans 18 seasons where he has totaled 235 goals and 423 assists for a total of 658 points. The veteran forward proved last season that he still has some more game left in him. His 55.7 percent faceoff rate made him the team’s most reliable face-off man. His place on the team’s fifth best penalty kill was also a part of his success.
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