Matt Cullen signing

The Penguins inked 17-year NHL veteran Matt Cullen to a one-year, $800,000 deal today which shores up their fourth line.

Cullen likely marks the final major move of the offseason as well. GM Jim Rutherford said he is not pursuing any other players via free agency, nor is he pursuing any trades at this time. Of course he would be open to a trade if the right deal emerged.

In our estimation there’s two key things this deal does:

1. Gives the club a competent fourth-line center to bridge the gap until Eric Fehr’s return from elbow surgery, which could linger into December. Then he can shift to the wing.

2. And, good or bad - depending on your perspective - it takes the pressure off of prospect Oskar Sundqvist to step out of training camp and into a starting role at fourth line center. 

Cullen is known commodity, albeit an aging commodity, but has been strong on face-offs and on the penalty kill in his career. He is also someone Rutherford raved about regarding off-ice intangibles and seems elated at having one more run at a Cup.  

He’s also won a Stanley Cup. That knowing how to seal the deal, is invaluable.

We spoke with Cullen this evening, who said he was very honest with himself about his ability to keep pace.

“My skating is probably my biggest asset. If my skating goes, my game goes,” said Cullen. “I’m aware of that. I train really hard. And to be real honest, if my skating had dipped I probably wouldn’t have played again. That was a big part of why I kept my name in the free agency pool. I feel like I still have a lot to offer.”