Cullen, 41, returns for a second tour of duty with the Penguins. He played with the club between 2015-17, helping the Pens win back-to-back championships. When Pittsburgh clinched its second-straight of those titles in Game 6 against Nashville in 2017, Cullen led all Pens forwards with 19:42 minutes.
A 6-foot-1, 200-pound native of Virginia, Minnesota, Cullen recorded 63 points (29G-34A) in 154 regular-season games during his first tour with Pittsburgh, plus another 15 points (6G-9A) in 49 postseason contests.
Cullen spent last year with the Minnesota Wild, producing 22 points (11G-11A) in 79 regular-season games, then two points (1G-1A) in five playoff appearances. It marked the third-straight year that he has reached double-figures in goals, dating back to his first two seasons with Pittsburgh. During that span, Cullen has averaged 13-plus goals.
Cullen is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, having also won a championship with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. He will be suiting up for his 21st season this year. Cullen has played in 1,445 career regular-season games with Anaheim, Florida, Carolina, the New York Rangers, Ottawa, Minnesota, Nashville and Pittsburgh. In those games, Cullen has 259 goals, 452 assists and 711 points. He has added 58 points (19G-39A) in 128 playoff contests.
Among active players, Cullen's 1,445 games played rank third, trailing only Patrick Marleau (1,575) and Joe Thornton (1,493). Cullen ranks fourth all-time among American-born players in games, behind a trio of Hall of Famers, Chris Chelios (1,651), Mike Modano (1,499) and Phil Housley (1,495). Cullen's 711 points are third-highest among active Americans behind only Chicago's Patrick Kane (828) and teammate Phil Kessel (741).
Originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round (35th overall) of the 1996 NHL Draft, Cullen played two seasons of college hockey at St. Cloud State.
