Cullen, who was the oldest player in the NHL last season, is 19th in NHL history in games with 1,516, second-most among United States-born players to Chris Chelios (1,651). Cullen won the Stanley Cup three times, with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017.
"I'll always have the Cups and those memories. But when I think back on those times, what really stands out is watching my boys with those guys," Cullen said. "That, for me, was the coolest thing ever to watch. It was like the boys were part of the family. ... Those are the memories I'll treasure probably more than anything. Just seeing them around the room every day. I know the boys will remember it forever."
Selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round (No. 35) in the 1996 NHL Draft, Cullen had 731 points (266 goals, 465 assists) with the Ducks, Florida Panthers, Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators and Penguins. He had 58 points (19 goals, 39 assists) in 132 playoff games.
"As I take this time to retire, I look back over the last 42 years of my life and the one thing I want to say the most is thank you," Cullen said. "Thank you to everyone who made my dreams possible. I'm grateful for every game, every moment, everything this game has given me. ... It's hard to believe that this is the end, but here I am.
"I may have skated my last shift, but I'm not hanging up my skates just yet. For me to be able to take [my sons] to the rink and play with them on the ice, as a dad, that's as good as it gets. I couldn't ask for more. That's what I had as a kid and to be able to share it with my kids is my greatest joy."
