Confirmed with Link: Penguins Agree To Terms With Matt Cullen (1 year | $800k)

[Ugene Magic]

Because it could apply. Cullen will be 39 this season, him becoming awful and the Pens regretting Sundqvist not getting NHL playing time is possible early in the season is possible.

How?

There is room for both early, and they could be resting players more with so much depth making use of the 13th forward position.

 

[Uncle Machete]

Cullen had almost the same point-per-game ratio as Brandon Sutter (0.40 vs 0.41). Make of that what you will.

 

[Son Goku]

Cullen had almost the same point-per-game ratio as Brandon Sutter (0.40 vs 0.41). Make of that what you will.

This team is ridiculously stacked now.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Cullen had almost the same point-per-game ratio as Brandon Sutter (0.40 vs 0.41). Make of that what you will.

Yeah, but can he win faceoffs and board battles?

 

[shureshot66]

The Penguins are anticipating that Eric Fehr and Nick Bonino will both play on the third line. Both are centers, but Fehr told me last week that he is very comfortable at right wing, where he has played most of his career. Bet on him playing there. Those two figure to team with Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz or David Perron on the third line.

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/08/06/penguins-sign-center-cullen/

 

[DesertedPenguin]

To clear up something, the Penguins are NOT over the salary cap with this signing.

https://www.hockeyscap.com/teams/penguins

Prior to this move, hockeyscap listed them with a full 23-man roster: 13 forwards, 8 defensemen, 2 goaltenders. At that point, the Penguins had $472,500 of cap space.

To add Cullen, one must remove a person from the 23-man roster. Do that by swapping out Bryan Rust ($652,500 for Cullen ($800,000). It's a reduction of $147,500 in cap space.

It'd be nice to move a Scuderi or Kunitz to shore up the defense, but a move is not necessary to get under the cap. The Penguins are under it no matter what combination is used to get to 23 players: Sundqvist up, Sheary up, Wilson up, Erixon or someone else as the 8th D. Doesn't matter. They'd be under the cap no matter what.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

How?

There is room for both early, and they could be resting players more with so much depth making use of the 13th forward position.

Because until Fehr is back isn't the full amount of experience that can be gained. That could end up being the wrong decision.

It's only a problem when it becomes a problem and it can. It could also end up being the right decision, we'll see, and we'll see what the Pens do.

Cullen had almost the same point-per-game ratio as Brandon Sutter (0.40 vs 0.41). Make of that what you will.

INTANGIBLES.

ffs, Sutter.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/08/06/penguins-sign-center-cullen/

Honestly, I'm not even sure I care all that much if Perron ends up on the 3rd line, as long as he's playing LW.

 

[Headshot77]

We have three sutters now. Lol

 

[Lowercase Letters]

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/08/06/penguins-sign-center-cullen/

So...
Perron Crosby Hornqvist
Kunitz Malkin Kessel
Dupuis Bonino Fehr
Plotnikov Cullen Bennet

 

[EVGENIMERLIN]

Kunitz in the top 6 gets a major Thumbs down from me

 

[Lowercase Letters]

Kunitz in the top 6 gets a major Thumbs down from me

This is just what I feel they might try first. I absolutely don't want him in the top six. Honestly any order of the left wings is somewhat possible...

 

[BeautiPhil]

While this may push some youth out of the lineup, with all of our question marks (is Plot in NHL player, can Dupuis still play after those injuries, is Kunitz going to decline further, is Sundqvist fit for the NHL), and the inevitable spree of injuries that's going to happen, the youth will get playing time. Even if they start in the AHL, having tons of depth is a good thing.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

I love the signing. Cheap, effective, RHS, wins faceoffs.

We always have people injured. ALWAYS. Can't ever have too many guys like this hanging around so we don't have to have the likes of Adams and Glass in the lineup.

 

[Asuna]

People still saying Perron could be on the third line....smh

 

[Pete Gas]

Pens are now Centers R Us

 

[mpp9]

He looked fine for Nashville. 4C is perfect for him.

 

[Waffle Fries]

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/08/06/penguins-sign-center-cullen/

This is not what Rutherford said the day of the trade/signing. It seemed pretty clear that he saw them both as centers.

 

[tom_servo]

9-Center Model.

 

[Shady Machine]

Another fear I have is that the Penguins will trade Perron instead of Kunitz to make the cap work when Fehr is healthy.

Yeah I guess that's possible. That would piss me off so much.

 

[JackFr]

If Kunitz is in the top six it'll be:

Kunitz - Crosby - Kessel
Perron - Malkin - Hornqvist

 

[Uncle Machete]

Yeah I guess that's possible. That would piss me off so much.

The only thing that would make sense in that case is that they get a really good return (which they probably won't get in a Kunitz deal).

But obviously Perron should stay long-term.

 

[Shady Machine]

http://dkonpittsburghsports.com/2015/08/06/penguins-sign-center-cullen/

Kunitz on Crosby's wing for life!!

 

[billybudd]

This is not what Rutherford said the day of the trade/signing. It seemed pretty clear that he saw them both as centers.

To be fair, this is sort of how he built his 06 winner. Not a lot of natural fits for X line so much as just a collection of quality forwards that the coach is supposed to figure out what to do with. Don't remember how many centers were on that club, but it was quite a bit more than 4 (Williams was a center by trade at the time...I think Cole and Whitney might have been as well...so that's Staal, Brind'amour, Weight, Williams, Cullen, maybe Cole and Whitney...probably forgetting someone).

 

[cheesedanish87]

Great signing, i'v always been a fan of Cullen.

He had good speed
He can win faceoffs
Hes someone who can chip in some goals on the 4th line.

Those are all areas the pens needed to improve.