Cullen Needs to Be More of a Plus
Coach Guy Charron can live with center Matt Cullen’s totals of 10 goals and 40 points entering Friday’s game against the Phoenix Coyotes at the Arrowhead Pond.
But what troubles Charron is Cullen’s plus/minus rating of minus 21. Charron hopes this season has been an aberration for Cullen and that he’ll be on the ice for a lot more goals for the Ducks at even strength than for the opponents in 2001-02.
“Right now, he’s projected to be our No. 2 center next season,” Charron said. “He has to center a productive line, an efficient line. . . . He can’t be a minus-20 player.”
Cullen, 24, set a career best with 40 points this season, but he had 39 points and was a plus five last season.
“To me, that’s an area of concern,” Charron said. “I want a minimum of players who are minus next season.”
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Winger Jonas Ronnqvist, sidelined because of an abdominal strain since March 29, was the lone Duck scratch.
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