Tampa Bay’s Cullen Retires

Tampa Bay center John Cullen, who missed all of last season while battling cancer, announced his retirement Friday. Cullen, 34, will remain with the Lightning as an assistant coach.

“My goal was to come back and play; to make it back after a bone marrow transplant and all the radiation I had, and I did it,” said Cullen, who did not have a point in four games with the Lightning this season. “The greatest thing was just to get back, but the greatest thing of all is being healthy.”

Ottawa traded defenseman Stan Neckar to the New York Rangers for forward Bill Berg and a 1999 second-round draft pick.

Neckar had played in only three games for Ottawa this season after breaking his right foot during an Oct. 22 game. Neckar had held out all preseason for a new contract, finally signing for $750,000.

Berg had spent all of this season with Hartford of the American Hockey League, scoring 10 points in 15 games.

The New Jersey Devils will remain in the Meadowlands Sports Complex or move to a new arena in Hoboken, N.J., even if the New Jersey Nets go to Newark, team President Lou Lamoriello told Bloomberg (N.J.) News.