"It's difficult. It's not easy to make moves. He's found a way to make our team better and improve our team. As players, you want to respond. So I think it's up to us to come to camp ready and make sure we get a good start and start things on the right foot. But like last year, with a little bit of change, you really have to focus on that and be aware of it. It's not easy just to bring in new guys and have everything be smooth. So we'll all be together in that, whether it's players or coaching staff, and we'll find a way to make sure we're ready for Game 1. I think that we've got a ton of depth and [Kessel] just adds to that. We all know he can score. He's got great speed and hopefully that's something where when they're trying to cover one guy, someone else is going to be open. And I think with the depth that we have, it shouldn't be easy to match up against us. So whatever the line combinations are, whoever ends up playing together, we're going to have some really good balance there and he's going to add a lot to that."
The depth Crosby was referring to includes six other players besides Kessel who scored at least 10 goals last season: Crosby and Evgeni Malkin each had 28. Patric Hornqvist (25), Chris Kunitz (17), David Perron (16) and Kris Letang (11) were the others.
Among their other moves, the Penguins signed forward Eric Fehr and traded for Nick Bonino. They also agreed to terms with veteran center Matt Cullen last week. Crosby said he hasn't spoken to any of his new teammates yet but is looking forward to meeting them at training camp.
"It's just something that you have to deal with now in the NHL; there's always kind of the changes in the roster. It's never easy to see guys leave, but at the same time, the energy that the new guys bring is really important too. Everyone who comes is always excited to come to Pittsburgh. They know they're going to have a chance to win, and it's up to us as a group to come together and give ourselves that opportunity."
Matt Cullen turned 38 years old at the beginning of last season, his second with the Predators, which he went into thinking could realistically be his last one in the league. After the year ended, Cullen returned to his native Minnesota, which is where he realized he wanted to continue to play and felt like he still had a lot to offer. Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford agreed, and subsequently agreed to terms with the 17-year NHL veteran on a one-year deal worth $800,000. Cullen has played 1,212 NHL games split between Nashville, Anaheim, Florida, the New York Rangers, Ottawa, Minnesota and Carolina, where he won a Stanley Cup under Rutherford in 2006. Having the chance to win again is incredibly important to Cullen at this point in his career, and the biggest reason why he chose to come to Pittsburgh. Cullen said he's equally comfortable at both center and wing.
“I really tried to enjoy it and make the most of it and take nothing for granted. I just think of it [joining the Penguins] as a gift, I really do. I trained hard all summer and was just keeping an open mind to the idea of playing again, and when this opportunity came up, I was so excited. I just feel like it’s a great fit. I know I’m getting near the end of my career. You don’t get many opportunities to make a run at a Stanley Cup. Having been there once before, I understand how hard it is to get there and I’d just love to get another chance at it. I’ve lost to Pittsburgh twice in the playoffs (in 2009 with Carolina and 2010 with Ottawa), so it’ll be fun to be on their side going after it instead of chasing them around [laughing]. It’s nice to go somewhere where you know [Rutherford] and they know you and there’s a familiarity and a comfort level there. It’s nice when they know your game and know what you’re capable of and where you’re best used. My versatility is probably one of the biggest contributions I can make. I think that in today’s game with the intensity of an 82-game schedule, the injuries and the ups and the downs and the different matchups, to have guys that can move around and be flexible and play center or wing or play up or down your lineup depending on where you need them, that’s an important tool to have.”
For Rutherford, that’s on the fourth line with the potential to move up if needed.
“He’s a player that can play center or left wing. He’ll play an important role on our fourth line in faceoffs, killing penalties, and he’s also a player that’s capable on the short term of moving up into the top-nine if we need him.”
Cullen’s versatility will be key, especially since Eric Fehr may not be ready for the start of the season as he recovers from from June 3 elbow surgery that has a recovery time of 4-6 months. While Rutherford said that they likely would have added Cullen regardless, the move is even more important now with Fehr out.
(Note: Rutherford said the day he added Fehr and Nick Bonino that they had room to add another forward if they wanted to, and he emphasized that by signing Cullen.
“This is not a signing that really affects our cap. Whether it was going to be Matt Cullen or another player, (the fourth-line center) would be making somewhere between $600-$800,000.) Looking at the big picture and our ultimate goal, to have a guy that knows what it takes to play on a team that can win a championship, and I know him personally as to how good he is with other players when they’re going through tough times or with younger players, is important. He’s always been a guy that takes time to help his teammates.”
That’s something Cullen learned from the veteran players who mentored him early in his career. He explained that Rod Brind'Amour and Doug Weight taught him he needed to continually adapt and improve his game if he wanted any longevity in this league.
“I smile whenever I think back to the different guys that have helped me along the way. Rod Brind’Amour and Dougie Weight come to mind immediately. I know how much I appreciated that from those guys and how much it’s meant to me and how it’s allowed me to play for as long as I have, so I feel like it’s important for me to sort of give that back to the young guys. I try to do that as much as possible and at the same time, try to stay out of their way a little bit too and not bug them (laughs). But I try as much as I can to help them get better and help with some little pointers and things like that.”
Cullen’s wife Bridget and three sons will be moving to Pittsburgh with him, and the entire family can’t wait to get here.
“Our three boys are 8, 6 and 5 and kind of hockey crazy. I couldn’t leave them behind if I wanted to. They’re dying to come. I’m just dying to get there and get started.”
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