Penguins/NHL
Matt Cullen is struggling mightily in Minnesota and is falling out of favor with Bruce Boudreau……Penguins Jim Rutherford has a soft spot for Cullen and Pittsburgh is on the hunt for another center……..
It was only going to be a matter of time before some Cullen to Pittsburgh speculation started surfacing.
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With Cullen set to be a healthy scratch tonight for the Wild, TSN’s Bob McKenzie is among those who have it out there on whether Cullen to Pittsburgh could become a consideration in the near future.
I wonder if Cullen would/could be a consideration/possibility to fill PIT need for F depth. No clue if MIN or PIT would even consider it. Just wondering/thinking out loud: https://t.co/KW2cWqDump
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 8, 2017
Cullen, 41, has 1 goal and 5 assists in 27 games.
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The early feedback on Cullen from evaluators has not been good.
In a return to the Western Conference against heavier teams, one scout via text says Cullen has been consistently getting “worked” in the defensive zone leading to extended shifts and he has looked “physically overmatched” [at times].
Another scout said Cullen has looked everything To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
If Pittsburgh entertains a Cullen reunion and Cullen is willing to leave his family when the return to Minnesota was about settling at home, the main question is whether Cullen at the level he is playing at this season is an upgrade over what the Penguins have in Riley Sheahan and Carter Rowney.
Sheahan is not the Penguins answer as the Penguins third line center and Penguin management knows it, but there’s no evidence Cullen at his level of play this season and age would be much of an upgrade over Sheahan or able to handle third line minutes.
Acquiring Cullen would be very popular in the room but aside from a sentimental move, Pittsburgh would be banking on that the Matt Cullen that’s been on tape this season in Minnesota is more about being a poor fit in the Wild’s system then Cullen looking like a player who should have retired.
Because he’s 41 years old, any consideration of bringing Cullen back has to be solely on what the Penguins feel he can still bring to the table than outside factors of how much Cullen is loved in the organization and what he did for them in the past.
Pittsburgh’s best move at this point in the season is being patient with their center situation, not close any doors on trying to add a legitimate No. 3 center with skill/goal scoring ability as re-acquiring Cullen would basically give the Penguins ‘three’-fourth line centers in Sheahan, Rowney and Cullen.
Marc Andre Fleury taken off of IR and may play Tuesday. Glad to see he’s healthy.
It’ll be interesting to see if Karlsson ends up being traded. Ottawa is a dumpster fire and they will probably lose him after this year. I wonder what it would take to get him?
Another drooling opportunity for you to start drooling. Mr bandwagon man
It was just a question. Remember you wanted Marty St. Louis a couple days before he retired over our leading scorer? Nice try, Mr. McDavid is in Vancouver.
Letang
I cannot see Ottawa walking away from him, I mean I guess he could always look for a winning opportunity but I doubt he goes anywhere to be honest.
How much longer do we have to watch the Letang train wreck.
How was malkin tonight care to discuss
Uh oh, trouble in paradise…
Letang sucks. Trade him to where French Frogs suck on a nitely basis. Yep, you guessed it, Montréal.
Is it just me or there is more leafs fans then pens at the game. Stain can you confirm for us please
It’s just you. And man, you just can’t keep him off your mind, can you?
Maybe this will help… today Markov gave an interview discussing how the Habs mistreated him on the way out
“As an athlete and a person who spent 16 years of my life in Montreal, I would’ve liked that they respected me, that’s all I asked from the team. I’ll be honest with you. There were almost no talks between me and the Canadiens. I received two or three offers from them. They said: ‘You sign or you don’t sign.’ Nobody listened to me and nobody wanted to listen to me.”
They are a classless, clueless franchise.
Sam sums it up nicely hey, guy shits all over a player that was a huge player for that team for years because he had a perception of what he thinks happened. Like Subban and his “attitude” those fucken people make shit up to justify how shitty they are as a fan base lol
Sounds like a whiner
He wanted 2 years 12m at 40 years of age of he cared so much staying he would’ve gave a discount offer and not a raise since he is end of his career talk about class typical Russian it’s all about $ that’s all they care
Well it’s a good thing they moved on… they don’t miss him at all
Damn. Rough start. Pens 5-4.
Decided to tune in because i knew toronto would bring speed and offense. Damn, they blew us up right away. Bounce back boys!
Cut that fish loose-4th line isn’t what needs addressed
Cullen and Sheahan on the same team doesn’t work. They’re both 4C’s. Rowney is better in the wing of your 4th line. Kuhn-Cullen-Rowney is a 4th line. Sheahan will need dumped if they intend to get a real 3C somewhere. Would love to see someone eat Hagy’s contract. Reaves is a waste, do you get a return while you can for Horni if you won’t be matching his trade request? Will Sullivan ever stop dicking around with wingers who don’t play defense like Kessel and Sheary?
Agreed with all of that until the last part. Kessel has been playing at a high level all year. I think any gm would enjoy having a top 10 scorer on their team. As far as Sheary, I would be open to moving him, but don’t see him as part of the problem. It’d be nice if his goaloutput, age and contract could land is someone a little more well rounded.
Sheary and Kessel have been the solution so far this year. I think part of the problem is Sullivan insisting that they play the entire length of the ice. He needs to get it that some guys play a lazy game at the blue line and just score goals. It’s OK to have that. He doesn’t need to throw Kessel down to the 3rd line or make Sheary a healthy scratch. Sprong is going to be the same problem whenever he gets called up. I worry with how he handles that type of player.
Love Cullen but pass.
Sheary Crosby Hornqvist
Guentzel Malkin Kessel
Hagelin Sheahan Rust
Kuhnhackl Cullen Rowney
Reaves
That’s a pretty rough bottom 6, especially with Hagelin producing like a 4th liner.
Yea, not sure they’ll move Hagelin tho.