Penguins' Matt Cullen: 'It's a pretty good way to go out'

Bill West
Monday, June 12, 2017 1:36 a.m. | Monday, June 12, 2017 1:36 a.m.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

The Penguins' Matt Cullen raises the Stanley Cup after beating the Predators in the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday, June 11, 2017 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review

Penguins center Matt Cullen (7) is slowed down by Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) in the second period of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday, June 11, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

The Penguins' Nick Bonino kisses the Cup after the Penguins beat the Predators in the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday, June 11, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena.

Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review

Penguins center Nick Bonino (13) is helped into the bench area against the Predators in the first period during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.

Christian Tyler Randolph | Tribune-Review

Penguins center Nick Bonino (13) kneels on the ice after being hit in the ankle with a puck against the Predators in the first period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Penguins center Matt Cullen isn't certain his NHL career reached its conclusion with Sunday's 2-0 win over Nashville in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The faces of three overjoyed sons on the ice at Bridgestone Arena compelled him to quickly leave a crowd of reporters and collect some congratulatory hugs. Who knows what other decisions those smiles might conjure out of Cullen in the upcoming weeks?

A 40-year-old veteran who became a three-time Cup champion, Cullen stopped short of declaring his retirement during the on-ice celebration, but he hinted there's not much else he wishes to accomplish in his career, which spans back to 1997.

“I have a pretty good feeling about where things are at,” said Cullen, who is an unrestricted free agent. “It's a pretty good way to go out.

“I'm just going to take a little bit of time when we get home and let things sink in because it hasn't really sunk in. You know, it happens so fast. It's been awesome. At a time like this, you think back over your career and you think back to all the people that helped you get where you are. It's just kind of overwhelming, the emotions. It's just an amazing experience, no matter how many times you go through it. It's unbelievable.”

Cullen logged four minutes and 42 seconds of short-handed ice time and finished with his highest overall total (19:42) since Feb. 12, 2016. And he also was one of just three line-up regulars who participated in the morning skate and boldly predicted the other two regulars who took part — Patric Hornqvist and Carl Hagelin — looked poised to deliver big performances. Hornqvist and Hagelin scored the Penguins' goals in the Cup clincher.

That the Penguins joke about Cullen's dad-like status on the team fails to faze the veteran center. It creates the kind of family environment that causes Cullen to love the NHL lifestyle and also miss what waits at home.

“I thank God every day for this,” Cullen said. “I just can't believe that it worked out this way. I'm so appreciative. It's such a humbling experience, to be real honest with you. I never expected to have this opportunity, and to have it work out like this, I'm really thankful to everybody. It's just nice to be a part of this.”

Bill West is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at wwest@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BWest_Trib.