Cullen's Last Game As A Cane Tonight? Sabres at Hurricanes, Game Day Preview
by Bob Wage on Feb 11, 2010 1:50 PM EST
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The Buffalo Sabres, (32-18-8) are in town to do battle with the Carolina Hurricanes, (22-30-7) tonight at the RBC, but most of the chatter around the rink is not about the game, it's about the possible upcoming trade of Hurricanes center, Matt Cullen.
According to this article in the Triangle Business Journal, Jim Rutherford is expecting to trade Cullen before the Olympic trade deadline, which is tomorrow at 3 p.m. That means that tonight's game could very well be Matt Cullen's swan song at the RBC, as a Hurricane anyway.
While the Carolina GM could certainly bring the versatile player back again next season, the likely scenario is that Brandon Sutter will assume role as second line center and Cullen would move on.
The toughest thing about these situations is that not only are the players in the dark during the negotiations, fans never have a chance to say goodbye and there is no closure. Sometimes that makes seeing the players move on all the more difficult.
On Tuesday night, there were scouts present in the press area representing Toronto, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Montreal, and Minnesota. Could Cullen be going home to finish the season with the Wild?
More about this as the story unfolds.
The Hurricanes are presently on a roll and have won three games in a row and seven of their last nine. Jussi Jokinen has been on fire since moving up to the Eric Staal line and has a seven game scoring streak on the line.
Manny Legace gets the nod in net tonight. Paul Maurice said that Justin Peters will get his next opportunity to shine against the Devils on Saturday night.
The lines will be the same as in recent games:
- Staal, Jokinen, Whitney
- Cullen, Kostopoulos, Samsonov
- Sutter, Ruutu, Dwyer
- Yelle, Brind'Amour, Goertzen
- Pitkanen, Ward
- Gleason, Corvo
- Carson, Alberts
The Buffalo Sabres have lost four games in a row, including a 4-3 loss at the hands of the Hurricanes last week Friday at the HSBC. It seems like they could use a jump start before the trade deadline expires, but will they make a move?
Die By The Blade examines that very topic.
This game will be broadcast locally by FS Carolinas starting at 7. We will have the open game thread warmed up and ready to rumble at 6:30.
Will Caniacs be watching another 2006 Stanley Cup hero move on after tonight?
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I know there is ZERO chance of this happening… Because I know all we are going to get for anyone at this point is draft picks….
but I would love it if there were a way to somehow acquire Burnse from Minnesota… he would make a great defensive pairing w/ Gleason…
Again… ZERO chance of that happening… But it would be awesome….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Feb 11, 2010 1:57 PM EST reply actions
I would cut back flips and hug old ladies if we ever signed that guy up to play in Raleigh….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Feb 11, 2010 4:39 PM EST up reply actions
Chip has Cullen’s take on it:
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/canes/cullen-puts-aside-rumors-plays-hockey
“I just focus on what I’m doing on the ice and don’t consider anything else,” Cullen said. “I think that’s the best way to be successful. That’s what I’ve learned from guys like Roddy (Brind’Amour), to just focus on the game, because that’s all you can control.”
“We have a home here and love it, and obviously have some great friends and great memories here,” he said. “Certainly this is the place where I really like playing, but we’ll just have to see how it plays out.”
I really hope they can find a way for him to come back next season. I know Sutter is the heir apparent to the 2nd line center job, but maybe Cullen would take the 3rd line center role, and maybe a little hometown discount?
I hope not. I’m a Cullen fan (in fact I have a Cullen jersey), and the return of Cullen is one of JR’s better ‘recycle’ projects. However, the team doesn’t need to keep the same players over and over again anymore.
Keeping a consistent team has helped to create a loyal and steady fan base, but I’m of the opinion that the way the fan base will grow is by having consistent winning teams not by having the same faces year after year after year. Afterall hasn’t the same faces underachieved more often than they’ve overachieved since 2005-06?
by Adam's Journey on Feb 11, 2010 2:25 PM EST up reply actions
To see Cullen go would really screw up our defensive power play kills. He and LaRose had the short handed chemistry last year and this year it is Cullen and K-Stop.
Even if they don’t score, they keep the puck out of our own end. Hate to see it happen.
But if Kostopoulos was able to fill LaRose’s shoes on the PK, wouldn’t somebody be able to fill Cullen’s role?
And I would note that our PK was 19th last year and is the same this year. Falling in love with mediocrity is what got us where we are now. It seems that no matter how poorly we do, everybody just wants to bring back basically the same team over and over again while jettisoning the obvious failures (coughAaronWardRodBrindamourcough). And it’s always the same story: we had a bunch of injuries, certain players underachieved, but everything will be different next season! And then the next season rolls by and the same players get hurt, there’s a new set of underachievers, etc.
Glad I am not alone in thinking that. Earlier this year, I got into a debate with the folks I sit with, friends, and my girlfriend over that.
One’s comment was, “What more do you want, this is not a traditional market you have to grow the fan base with familiar players.” And other items with the idea to loyalty, community, etc. My counter was, they’ve been here for over 10 years, an most of us have gone to games since Greensboro or pre-2002, you can’t just not make moves in fears of hurting or pleasing the fans feelings.
IF you really look at the franchise over the past ten years, they are a 7-10th place team. A few good breaks they are in the playoffs even a higher seed – a few bad breaks they miss the playoffs…(See 1999-2000, 2007-08).
But it truly eerie how you can write nearly the same exact script for the Hurricanes year after year. A .500 start, the November/December Slump, the do they get rid of Mo or Lavi discussions, the puck drop at New Years being out of sync, wake up in January, a strong finish, and either too little to late, peak a week too soon, or a fun ride and more tailgaiting for two months or so.
The funny thing is…I enjoy and love every minute of it…and that’s why we go right? :)
by Adam's Journey on Feb 11, 2010 4:10 PM EST up reply actions
I agree that the team needs to adjust the roster. I like Cullen and Corvo, but I really feel it would be better to just move on. I know that we’ll get some players that won’t live up to our expectations, but some will and some will exceed our expectations (Kostopoulos). I think sometimes bringing back the same faces over and over lead to some complacency. I don’t mind keeping a few core players and rotating the other every couple of seasons.
Regarding the fan base; the organization shouldn’t be afraid to make some moves because of hurting the fans feelings. Let’s be honest, I don’t like all the moves JR makes, but I’m still a Caniac. Players are going to come and go, that’s how life/sports are. With that said, this organization still does need to go the extra mile for the fan. 12 years is not a short period of time, but building a fan base to where we need it will take longer. The team has developed roots, but won’t see the fruits of their labor for a couple of more years. The kids that have been going to the games are the backbone of this franchise. They are going to be the ones that are die-hard hockey fans that grew up with the sport. They are going to be the ones that determine this franchises viability in the long-run. That’s the one thing that really pisses me off about the older markets when they criticize us. Their market area is usually significantly larger than ours and their team has been in place for multiple generations. Give us time, we do a decent to pretty good job now, but it should get better as more time passes.
No matter what we the fans thnk or feel, ultimatlely, it will be decided behind closed doors, and we’ll be the last to know…as usual…myself, I have already adapted Cullen’s attitude…just foucus on the game, and NOT on what you can’t control. be afe and have fun @ tonights game. And to the author of this aritcle…i may NOT always agree with all that you say or write, but in this topic & issue, i thank you…good job. Go Canes !!
If you think you can't, you won't !
This is where the trade game hurts. I hate to see a guy like this go, and I think he has been one of the rbightest spots on the team this year and almost every year.
I’ve always found Matt to be a very good, honest guy. I’ll hate to see him go, but it is what it is.
by Cory Lavalette on Feb 11, 2010 3:54 PM EST up reply actions
Cullen would be a very good fit here. The Wild have been desperate for a #2 center for about, oh, ten years now. Not sure what they have to offer in return, but Chuck Fletcher has not been shy about moving people.
Here’s hoping. (And sorry to see him leave the Canes. I know he is popular there)
Thanks – good to know. If Cullen has to go, I hope he ends up in Minnesota. That’s where his family (and summer home and charity causes) are and I’m thinking it probably would be a great place for him to finish out a great career. Besides, he probably already knows a little Finnish.
by Carolyn Christians on Feb 11, 2010 3:11 PM EST up reply actions
Can we please have Burnse?
(I’m kidding… I know that will NEVER happen… But it’s fun to pretend sometimes…)
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Feb 11, 2010 4:43 PM EST up reply actions
You sure you want him? Major concussion issues, over playing the puck like crazy. Seem lost outside of the Lemaire system. We still have hope, and he is very popular here. Not sure many GMs are eyeballing him though.
Seem lost outside of the Lemaire system
We are really good at helping “lost” players find their way again…. (could be something in the water…. not sure)
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Feb 11, 2010 11:14 PM EST up reply actions
Cullen Playing
Why would ‘Canes play Cullen if he’s as good as gone tomorrow ? Granted, it’s good for the fans, and trying to keep Buffalo down in the standings (Wallin Draft pick).
But risking an injury tonight is poor asset management.
because until Cullen gets the call he’s a Cane, and who knows he may not get a call at all. Nothing is a done deal until JR says so.
Staal + Jussi = GOAL
I think with Wallin the deal was pretty much imminent in Calgary with one team (The Sharks). I think with Cullen, there’s been no really announce suitor so unless something is pretty much agreed in principle…he’s gonna play.
by Adam's Journey on Feb 11, 2010 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
…with that said…watch it be announce right before the game…or right after.
by Adam's Journey on Feb 11, 2010 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
Wearing my Cullen Jersey tonight for Sure....
Hope we get a 1st rounder or a 2nd plus a prospect because Cullen is WORTH AT LEAST as much as we gave up for Weight!!!!!!!!!
I Really hope JR re-signs Cullen this summer but am afraid he will be too high priced with at least 5 really good years left in his career he will draw a lot of interest on FA market. Great 2 way center that plays all phases of special teams to boot
A prospect, a draft pick, and Jesse Boulerice?
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Feb 11, 2010 4:45 PM EST up reply actions
I guess looking back…. it equaled out… Boulerice was popular here… but was a healthy scratch about 50% of the time and the main reason he was popular was because he would fight….
Nothing ever became of Michael Zigomanus (sp?)
And we probably should have kept the 1st rounder and offered a 2nd rounder…. but oh well…
Doug Weight was a crucial part of our Cup Run. (yes… I capitalized Cup Run)
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Feb 11, 2010 11:40 PM EST up reply actions
Dominic Moore
The Habs just traded their 2nd round pick for Dominic Moore. He has amassed 17 points this season. You would think that this drives the asking price up for Cullen and Whitney. Cullen has far more offensive out put and is comparable defensively and physically. I understand the value is in the eye of beholder, but this has to benefit the Canes, especially with it happening so close to the rumored time of Cullen’s departure (tomorrow by 3 PM).
If we, hypothetically, trade Cullen to the Wild, I think there are two very intriguing defensive prospects: Tyler Cuma and Nick Leddy. I know both of them are on the younger side, but they possess the offensive upside that we may need if we lose Corvo via trade or eventually this summer. Also, if Pitkanen prices himself out of the market when he is due a new contract.
I am not too keen on any of the Wild forward prospects as other than Koivu and Gaborik, their track record with forwards isn’t stellar (ex. Bouchard, Pouliot, Sheppard, O’Sullivan). I do think P.M. Bouchard has been a solid contributor thus far in his career, around the same production as Samsonov, but injury prone. While the others are still young, they don’t seem to have showed a significant amount of promise, at least not enough to trade for (Pouliot has already been traded to the Habs, where he has shown better production than he did for the Wild).
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