Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

2010 NHL Free Agency: Minnesota hands Matt Cullen three-year, $10.5M deal

Zach Bogosian, Matt Cullen

Ottawa Senators center Matt Cullen (7) skates against Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Zach Bogosian, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game at Philips Arena, Thursday, March 18, 2010, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)

AP

To me, Matt Cullen evokes the old saying, “Jack of all trades, but a master of none.” Cullen seems like a good character guy, is an adequate defensive player, is well above average when it comes to face-offs and can put the puck in the net on occasion. Rarely would you say that he’s the best - or even elite - in any of those areas, though.

Yet the Minnesota Wild seem quite impressed with the versatile center, signing him to a surprisingly robust three-year, $10.5 million deal according to Nick Kypreos. That’s $3.5 million per year, cap-hit wise.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Cullen is far from a bad player. I just think it’s a hefty price for a solid, likable but seemingly replaceable set of skills.