21 years later, Matt Cullen is officially hanging them up.
The Penguins centre announced his retirement on Wednesday morning through the team's Twitter account in a video reflecting back on his career that started way back in 1997.
"I've been in a constant state of almost-retirement for the last few years," Cullen wrote on the Penguins' website. "But coming into this last season, I knew that no matter what it would be the end. Even if we had won the Cup I would have been done. Playing those last few years really gave me the clarity to know this was it.
"It was an emotional time, but I knew it was coming. It just felt right and I was really at peace with everything when it was over."
A second-round pick by the Ducks in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Cullen suited up for the Panthers, Hurricanes (twice), Rangers, Senators, Wild (twice), Predators and Penguins (twice). He won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006, before lifting Lord Stanley's mug in back-to-back seasons with the Pens in 2016 and 2017.
"I felt like it was only right to retire in Pittsburgh with everything that the organization had given me and done for me," Cullen wrote. "'m so happy I came back and finished my last year in Pittsburgh. I wouldn't trade that last year for anything.
"I remember waking up in the middle of the night many times these last few years thinking, 'What am I doing? I'm 40 years old. I don't think I can play another year in the NHL.' After each time I signed the past few years I woke up in a cold sweat, not sure if I could still play.
Players, family members, media and teams from around the league shared their tributes on Twitter to congratulate the 42-year-old on a fine career.
1,516 NHL regular season and 132 playoff games later with a total of 789 points, the oldest player in the NHL is now retired. Only Chris Chelios played more games among American born NHL players.
"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."
