With no Jagr, Cullen assumes 'oldest active player' mantle

ST. PAUL -- When the Calgary Flames placed Jaromir Jagr on waivers on Sunday, with the intent of loaning him to a club back in the Czech Republic, Wild forward Matt Cullen ascended to the top of the NHL charts in one peculiar category: the Moorhead-raised forward became the NHL's oldest active player.
"I saw that coming when I started seeing the news. I was like, 'Oh boy. Here we go,'" Cullen said. "I don't really know what to say. Whatever. It is what it is. I've been around for a long time."
Cullen was drafted in 1996 by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. His last fight in the NHL came against Jeremy Roenick, who has been a television analyst for almost a decade now. The bout occurred when Bill Clinton was still president (1999).

Needless to say, Cullen's new title has made its way into the Wild's dressing room, where a few playful verbal barbs have been cast his way.

"It's been mentioned a few times," Cullen said. "It gets around."
Without Jagr in the League, Cullen is the only 41-year-old remaining in the NHL and is one of just two players who are playing at 40 years of age (Boston's Zdeno Chara will turn 41 later this season).
Cullen said he's watched Jagr's career from afar for a long time. The two were even teammates for one season with the New York Rangers in 2006-07.
"I was so impressed with how much he puts in to taking care of himself and committing to the game," Cullen said. "That was kind of before guys were doing a lot of that. He was really committed to doing what he needed to do. He was there before everybody. His late-night workouts are pretty well documented. It takes a lot to continue to play at that age. What a career he had."
Cullen said he remembered being 14 years old and watching his favorite team, the Minnesota North Stars, lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Jagr was an 18-year old rookie on that Penguins team, scoring three goals and 13 points during Pittsburgh's 24-game playoff run that postseason. That came after a 27-goal rookie campaign, Jagr's first of 17 consecutive 20-plus-goal seasons.
"Thinking he was a big part of that is pretty amazing thinking about how long ago that was. He still played the game at a high level right up until the end. It was quite a career," Cullen said. "You can't say enough. It's not easier to play as guys get older. It's a young man's game now with it getting faster and faster. To play as long as he did is amazing."
Cullen is uniquely qualified to make that statement. So is Wild coach Bruce Boudreau, who has been around some of the game's best as they've played into their 40s. In Anaheim, Boudreau coached Teemu Selanne during his final seasons in the League.
Selanne played at a very high level, scoring 26 goals and 66 points in 82 games as a 41-year-old in 2011-12. He retired in 2014 after playing in 64 games as a 43-year-old.
"I thought he was the most amazing athlete in the world," Boudreau said of Selanne. "You look at every other sport, there's no [43-year-old] man playing at that level. In football, other than Tom Brady, if you're older, you're usually a kicker. In baseball, it's maybe a relief pitcher, there aren't a lot of Nolan Ryans around.
"But to play 15 minutes, in a physical sport, like this at that age is pretty incredible. I don't think people realize how good it is for a Jagr, or a Gordie Howe or Teemu Selanne to do the things at that age, or Matt Cullen, quite frankly."

Niederreiter continues progress, likely back Friday

Wild forward Nino Niederreiter was back on the ice again on Thursday without issue and appears likely to return to the lineup on Friday, as Minnesota plays hosts the Vegas Golden Knights. It's the first of back-to-back games for the Wild, who travel south to play the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
Niederreiter skated on a line with Eric Staal and Tyler Ennis during practice, and barring a setback, Boudreau said he expects his winger to play.

"He's looking good," Boudreau said. "It should give us more variety in the top three lines to be able to move people around and balance it out a little better."

Reilly's return

After being a healthy scratch for each of the past six games, defenseman Mike Reilly will get back into the lineup against Vegas.
Reilly will slide into the mix in place of Gustav Olofsson, who has played well in getting his own opportunity at consistent playing time.
"He can skate well. He reminds you, I would think, of a young Jonas Brodin in a lot of ways. He's got a good stick, so those things are all positive," Boudreau said of Olofsson. "For the most part, we've had some success with him in the lineup. Sometimes you just don't want to change a lot when you're having success."
Ultimately, Boudreau said he didn't want Reilly sitting too long and was eager to give him an opportunity to get back in.
"I think it's time," Boudreau said.
Related:
- Watch: Cullen on being the NHL's oldest player - Watch: Boudreau talks following Thursday practice - Wild wants Coyle to be more selfish on the ice