Cullen puts aside rumors, plays hockey

The Canes' Matt Cullen has heard all the trade rumors. He knows anything can happen, and could happen by Friday at 3 p.m., when the trade freeze for the Olympics begins.

But Cuilen says it's not hard putting that out of his mind and just concentrating on hockey.

"You just do," he said today. "That's the only way you can do it because it's part of the business.

"It's just one of those things you learn as a player, that you have to block out any distractions that you don't have control over. And this is one of those."

If you believe the speculation, there are at least four teams actively seeking a deal for Cullen, a good two-way center who can be used on the power play and is an aggressive penalty killer. If you believe the speculation, general manager Jim Rutherford wants at least a second-round draft pick in return for Cullen, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

"I just focus on what I'm doing on the ice and don't consider anything else," Cullen said. "I think that's the best way to be successful. That's what I've learned from guys like Roddy (Brind'Amour), to just focus on the game, because that's all you can control."

Cullen said this is the last thing anyone could have expected, to be in February and all but out of the playoff chase and having everyone guessing which players will be traded and when. Ray Whitney's name is being tossed around even more than Cullen's.

"We didn't expect it but that's the way it worked out," he said. "It's just the way the business works. Everyone knows when they're going into the final year of their contract, if they're not in the playoffs are whatever, there's a likely chance."

Cullen does not have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he said the information he's getting is sketchy. Canes management, he said, handles the negotiations.

"I know all that talk is out there but I don't really worry about it or look into that," he said. "There's nothing I can do to control it, so it's a waste of time and energy for me."

Regardless of how things shake out, Cullen said he would like to be back with the Canes next season, if all can be worked out suitably for both sides.

"We have a home here and love it, and obviously have some great friends and great memories here," he said. "Certainly this is the place where I really like playing, but we'll just have to see how it plays out."