Former Carolina Hurricanes forward and three-time Stanley Cup Champion, Matt Cullen has decided to hand up his skates after 21 seasons in the NHL.
In 1997, 21-year-old Matt Cullen debuted in the NHL with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. 21 seasons, 8 teams, 1,516 NHL games, 731 points, and three Stanley Cups later, former Carolina Hurricanes forward Matt Cullen has decided to hang up his skates.
The now 42-year-old, Cullen wrote in an article on the Pittsburgh Penguins website, “It was an emotional time, but I knew it was coming. It just felt right and I really at peace with everything when it was over.”
“The Ageless Wonder” first came to the Carolina Hurricanes after signing in free agency in 2004, but never stepped onto the ice inside the RBC Center, now named PNC Arena, until 2005 due to the lockout.
With 21 NHL seasons, 1,516 regular-season games and 731 points, Matt Cullen retires a 3x #StanleyCup Champion. Congratulations to Matt on an outstanding career, and all the best in retirement! pic.twitter.com/mA6s5NQhaU
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) July 10, 2019
During the 2005-2006 season, Cullen remained relatively quiet only posting 49 points in 78 games. Then in the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Cullen exploded with 18 points in 25 games quickly becoming a pivotal part of the team on the way to winning his first Stanley Cup as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.
Cullen left the Hurricanes that offseason to join the New York Rangers only for him to be traded back to the Hurricanes a year later. He remained with the team until he was traded to Ottawa during the 2009-2010 season.
After bouncing around playing for the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, and the Ottawa Senators, Cullen landed with the Pittsburgh Penguins where he won back to back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. Cullen’s late NHL goal was even in PNC Arena against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 19th, 2019
The caniacs have never forgotten about Cullen as remains of the most liked players to ever have played in Raleigh. He was honored as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes 20th anniversary team in 2018.
Question to the Cardiac Cane readers: What was your favorite Matt Cullen moment?