Jul 17, 2007, 16:05 GMT
Raleigh, NC - The Carolina Hurricanes have re-acquired center Matt Cullen in a trade with the Rangers, sending defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, forward Joe Barnes and a third-round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft to New York.
Cullen was a major part of Carolina's Stanley Cup championship team in 2006, and then signed a four-year contract with the Rangers as a free agent last July. He played 80 games last season for New York, notching 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points while establishing a career high in penalty minutes with 52.
'Matt was an important member of our championship team in 2006 and we obviously know he is an excellent fit for our style of play,' said Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford. 'He is extremely popular in our dressing room and his speed and skill will be important assets going forward.'
The Hurricanes missed the 2007 playoffs after capturing their first Stanley Cup title the year before.
Cullen scored a career-high 25 goals during the 2005-06 season with Carolina and played a big role in the Stanley Cup run, posting four goals and 14 assists for 18 points in 25 playoff games. He had a pair of assists in the clinching seventh game of the Cup Finals against Edmonton.
In 671 career regular-season games with Anaheim, Florida, Carolina and the Rangers, the Minnesota native has registered 118 goals and 203 assists for 321 points. He was Anaheim's second-round pick in the 1996 draft.
Hutchinson appeared in 41 games for the Hurricanes last season, scoring three goals with 11 assists for 14 points. Barnes, a third-round pick by Carolina in the 2005 draft, had two goals and one assist in 15 games for Albany of the AHL last season.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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