KINGSTON, Mass. — Penguins coach Mike Sullivan would love to play Matt Cullen 12-14 minutes a night on the fourth line, use him to kill penalties and enjoy every ounce of leadership that Cullen exudes.
That’s not going to happen, of course, as Cullen signed a one-year, incentive-laden deal with his hometown Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.
A former player himself, Sullivan knows the Penguins may miss Cullen, but — speaking at The Bog Ice Arena for his day with the Stanley Cup — Sullivan said he absolutely understands the reasoning behind Cullen’s decision.