The Carolina Hurricanes acquired center Matt Cullen – a key piece in their 2006 Stanley Cup title run – from the New York Rangers on Tuesday in exchange for defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, along with a prospect and a draft pick.
Cullen tallied career highs with 25 goals and 49 points as the Hurricanes’ third-line center in 2005-06, including four goals and 14 assists in the playoffs. But Cullen signed a four-year deal with the Rangers as a free agent last summer, finishing with 16 goals and 25 assists in New York.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes struggled to fill Cullen’s spot and failed to make the playoffs. He hopes he can help Carolina find the same magic again.
“Any time you win a Stanley Cup, you’d love another run at it,” Cullen said. “My style of play fits there under (coach Peter Laviolette) and with those guys. That’s been the best fit that I’ve ever had in my career for sure.”
Cullen became expendable when the Rangers signed centers Chris Drury from the Buffalo Sabres and Scott Gomez from the New Jersey Devils this month. He is scheduled to make about $2.8 million this season.
Carolina also sent forward Joe Barnes and a third-round pick in the 2008 draft to the Rangers.
Bruins: Boston acquired left wing Peter Schaefer from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for right wing Shean Donovan.
Schaefer had 12 goals and 34 assists last season, while Donovan scored six goals and made 11 assists.
Wild: Minnesota re-signed hard-shooting defenseman Kurtis Foster to a one-year, $1.025 million contract. He had three goals and 20 assists last season, tying a franchise record with 13 power-play assists.
Capitals: Defenseman Steve Eminger and center Brian Sutherby re-signed with Washington, which also added free-agent center Jason Morgan.
Eminger had one goal and 16 assists last season, his fourth with the Capitals. Sutherby finished last season with seven goals and 10 assists and was fourth on the Capitals with 78 penalty minutes.
Morgan, who spent most of last season in the American Hockey League, has two goals and five assists in 44 career NHL games with five teams.
