It seemed so innocent late Saturday night, Matt Cullen, sounding like an old man well past his bedtime, talking about how he used to watch Jake Guentzel play high school hockey in Minnesota. But it said so much. Guentzel was 3 when Cullen broke into the NHL in 1997 with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. The two are teammates now on a Penguins club that looks good enough to become the first repeat Stanley Cup champion in almost two decades. What makes their story so compelling is that each belongs. Each has earned his spot, Cullen at 40, absolutely an old man by his sport's harsh standards and the NHL's third-oldest player, and Guentzel at 22, a mere baby and the Penguins' youngest player. It's a beautiful thing, a wonderful dynamic that makes sports so much fun to watch.
There always should be a place for a veteran such as Cullen because of his experience, wisdom and, yes, still-viable skills. Sidney Crosby has become a terrific NHL captain, but he will be the first to tell you it doesn't hurt to have a Cullen next to him _ on the ice and off _ just as it didn't hurt to have a Bill Guerin by his side when the Penguins won the Cup in 2009.
"He was a key player to put in that room. To add some character," general manager Jim Rutherford said of signing Cullen before last season.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Matt as a person," coach Mike Sullivan said. "I look at him as an extension of our coaching staff. I think he relishes that role."
Cullen loves the game, loves that he still can play it at a high level in his 18th NHL season, loves the adventures that it brings every day. Saturday night was the outdoor game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Heinz Field. Cullen scored the Penguins' third goal _ the winning goal _ in a 4-2 win. It was his 10th goal of the season, nice production for a man who, at this point of his long career, is a bottom-six forward. He also led the team with 4:24 of short-handed time.
"I gotta tell you, I don't know if I've had more fun playing hockey," Cullen said. "I was just blown away by the atmosphere. Just the whole thing, it was one of those bucket-list deals."
Cullen certainly enjoyed watching Guentzel have a big night as the game's No. 1 star. Guentzel delivered a perfect pass to set up a Crosby goal, survived a brutal hit from Flyers defenseman Brandon Manning and picked up the first assist on a Nick Bonino power-play goal. Cullen knows how important it is to a team for young players to come up from the minors and provide production as well as I-can't-believe-I'm-in-the-bigs enthusiasm and energy. He saw it last season with Matt Murray, Conor Sheary, Bryan Rust, Tom Kuhnhackl and Scott Wilson. He's seeing it now with Guentzel.
"It's good to see him step in and play so well," Cullen said. "He's just such a hard-working, good kid and a good player. He's made some big plays for us."
"He was the best player on the ice tonight," Evgeni Malkin said of Guentzel after the Flyers game.
Guentzel got his big break because of injuries to Penguins forwards, first to Patric Hornqvist and Chris Kunitz in November, now to Sheary and Rust. Saying he has made the most of it wouldn't be doing him justice. He has six goals and eight assists in 23 games.
"Jake is a good player," Sullivan said. "I think he has such great offensive instincts. I think he has a quiet confidence about him. I don't think he gets overwhelmed by this type of an event. He has the ability to play with Crosby or Malkin or wherever you put him. He doesn't seem to get fazed. He just plays his game.
"I've said this before. As a young player sometimes, it can be intimidating to play with a player like Sid or Geno because there are expectations and there is pressure to perform and make plays. Not every young player can handle that type of situation. Jake is a guy that has shown an ability to play in those circumstances. His maturity level serves him well."
As big as it was to play in front of a sellout crowd of 67,318 at Heinz Field, much bigger games are ahead. Stanley Cup playoff games. The stage wasn't too bright last season for Murray, Sheary and Rust, all instrumental in the Penguins' Cup win. It doesn't figure to be too bright for Guentzel.
The Penguins are lucky Cullen will be there again, not just for Guentzel but for all of their young players. Sullivan joked Saturday night that Cullen is closer to the dads' ages than he is to the players' ages. But that's one of the many things Sullivan loves about Cullen. He knows the young players can lean on Cullen and tap into his knowledge and calmness when the games turn intense. Cullen is one of the ultimate been-there-done-that guys, playing in 98 postseason games and winning Cups with the Penguins last season and the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.
"He has a certain demeanor about him that's composed when the stakes are high," Sullivan said. "He's still a terrific player."
Cullen knows this likely will be his final run. You had better believe he's going to enjoy every second.
"I don't think he takes anything for granted," Sullivan said. "I think he really appreciates being a part of this team and everything that it's been able to accomplish."
Two things seem certain:
Cullen isn't done yet. More accomplishments are ahead.
