Feature: Cullen, Hamilton Getting the Point

The following article featuring former Yale forward Jeff Hamilton appeared in the October 17 issue of the News & Observer. The article can be accessed via the Observer Web site by clicking here.

Lorenzo Perez, Staff Writer
The News & Observer

RALEIGH - Matt Cullen did not anticipate a long acclimation period before reclaiming his niche in the Carolina Hurricanes' lineup.

Neither did free-agent signee Jeff Hamilton, and the quick starts by the two offseason acquisitions have helped fuel Carolina's strong burst from the gate.

Paired at the point of Carolina's rejuvenated power play, Cullen and Hamilton rank among the team's early points leaders and have added new balance to the Canes' four lines.

With his power-play goal Saturday in Carolina's 3-1 win over Montreal, Cullen has three goals and two assists through six games. Only Eric Staal has more shots on the team than the aggressive Hamilton, who centers Carolina's fourth line and has two goals and four assists.

"From the back-end point of view, I think it provides a lot of mobility, a lot of skill," coach Peter Laviolette said of the early impact of Cullen and Hamilton on the team's five-forward, power-play unit. "We have guys that think at the point primarily about offense, and they're skilled players that take the game back there."

A key member of Carolina's 2006 Stanley Cup team, Cullen signed after the title run with the New York Rangers but returned to the Canes this past summer in a trade that dealt defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, Joe Barnes and a third-round pick in the 2008 NHL draft to New York.

"It's been a lot easier when you've got guys like him and Roddy [Brind'Amour]," Cullen said Tuesday, motioning at linemate Ray Whitney. "I mean, playing with Ray and being on the point of the power play, it's what I expected I guess, in my return. I enjoy it, it's where I like to be, and I'm having fun with it."

And a season after missing the playoffs, Cullen's fun has been Carolina's gain, Laviolette said.

"I think now that Matt's back, we realize how much we missed him. You forget how important he was to this team and what he did on the power play, in the playoffs, in the regular season, shootouts, five-on-five and now he's killing some penalties for us," Laviolette said. "You see how important he is to this team."

A fourth-year NHL player who notched 18 goals and 21 assists last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, the 5-foot-10 Hamilton drew early raves from his new teammates for his puck handling and sniper's appetite for the big shot.

"Just from experience in practices against him, it's fair to put him up there as one of the top shots on our team," Carolina goaltender Cam Ward said. "And I guess one area that our team did look to improve upon was adding to the power play. I think he adds that extra power shot from the point, and that makes it tough on opposing teams. If the goalie saves it, there's a good chance of it being a rebound, just because it's hard for a goaltender to control."

The Hurricanes' power play entered Tuesday night ranked second only to Boston's, scoring on nine of its 34 extra-man opportunities (26.5 percent).

The biggest thing that coaches have noticed about Hamilton since his arrival, Laviolette said, was his eagerness to pull the trigger and shoot the puck.

"He certainly is a guy who will jump on it as much as possible, and that's what we're looking for," Laviolette said.

As long as he has the green light from coaches, Hamilton said he's eager to take them up on the offer.

"I think that's what we've been stressing, Cully and myself: getting the puck, finding a lane and pounding it down to the net," Hamilton said. "That's where a majority of the goals come from is right around the goal mouth with screens and second efforts and rebounds and the most important thing is getting shots."

So far this season, it's a point well taken.