Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Matt Cullen Sign Deals With Isles, Preds
By Dakota Case
Apr 18, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; Minnesota Wild right wing Pierre-Marc Bouchard (96) scores a goal against San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) during the second period at the HP Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
According to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, former Minnesota Wild forwards Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Matt Cullen have signed with the New York Islanders and Nashville Predators, respectively.
Per @aaronward_nhl, Pierre-Marc Bouchard signs 1-year, $2 million deal w #nyislanders. First concussion at the Isle (Nate Thompson) #mnwild
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 5, 2013
Tracking toward Matt Cullen signing in Nashville; good signing for #preds...Trotz will love him, and more importantly, @JoshuaCooper #mnwild
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 5, 2013
Minnesota selected Bouchard at 8th overall in the 2002 National Hockey League Draft. In 565 career NHL games, “Butch” has scored 106 goals and 241 assists for 347 points with a plus-15 rating. Bouchard leaves the club that drafted him ranking second in Wild history with 565 games, fourth with 106 goals, second with 241 assists and third with 347 points.
Matt Cullen leaves Minnesota after three seasons skating in the hometown sweater. In 193 games in the Red, White and Green, “Cully” potted 33 goals, nine on the man advantage, and chipped in 68 assists for 101 points and a negative-15 rating. In his NHL career, Cullen has scored 202 goals and 360 assists for 562 points in 1,073 games. Cullen is a proven winner and won the Stanley Cup in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes. His veteran leadership and no-quit attitude will be sorely missed in Minnesota, but will no doubt be to the advantage of an offensively challenged Predators squad.
This will always be a favorite memory of Cullen in the minds of most Wild fans. Sure, it was a beautiful goal by Zucker, but that goal never would have happened without the quick thinking of Cullen who was laying flat on the ice. What a moment to experience.