TSN's Bob McKenzie is reporting that the Carolina Hurricanes traded center Matt Cullen to the Ottawa Senators for defenseman Alexandre Picard and a second round draft pick.
It was expected that Cullen would be traded before the deadline today for at least a second rounder, but apparently Jim Rutherford was able to squeeze a defensive prospect out of Ottawa GM Bryan Murray as well. The Senators acquired Picard from Tampa Bay in a previous trade for Andrej Meszaros two years ago.
The 24 year old Picard has decent size, (6'3, 215), averages about 19 minutes a game, and has scored 4 goals and 11 assists in 45 games so far this season. Last year he had 6 goals and 8 assists in 47 games.
Matt Cullen was a fan favorite in Carolina and was instrumental in the team's playoff run last season as well as the Stanley Cup Championship in 2006. He will be missed.
More about this and a tribute to Cullen a bit later.
(For Ottawa's take, check out Silver Seven Sens.)