Adam Cracknell (born July 15, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who plays for HK Poprad in the Tipos Extraliga. He was selected in the ninth round, 279th overall, by the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2004 NHL entry draft and has previously played for the St. Louis Blues, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, and Anaheim Ducks and played over 200 NHL games.
Playing career
Junior Cracknell played junior hockey in the Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association (VIAHA) Midget A1 league with the Juan de Fuca Grizzlies Minor Hockey Association, later for the Kootenay Ice in the Western Hockey League (WHL) between 2002 and 2006. Following his second season with the club, he was selected in the ninth round (279th overall) by the Calgary Flames during the 2004 NHL entry draft. As a member of the 2004–05 team, the Ice won the league's regular season championship. During the 2005–06 season, Cracknell led the team in goals (42), assists (51), and points (93); finished second in the WHL in total points; and was named to the WHL West Second All-Star Team.
Professional
Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues Cracknell spent his first three professional seasons with the Flames' minor league affiliates, skating with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and the Quad City Flames of the American Hockey League (AHL). However, he never appeared in a game for the club. On July 16, 2009, Cracknell signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues.
Cracknell spent the majority of the 2011 season playing for the Blues affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League. The Blues recalled him on March 1, 2011, and on March 12, Cracknell scored his first NHL goal in a game against the Detroit Red Wings. On April 17, 2014, Cracknell scored his first Stanley Cup Playoff goal in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarter Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks, a series the Blues lost in six games.
Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets On July 1, 2014, Cracknell signed a one-year deal as a free agent with the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings. However, during training camp Cracknell failed to impress the Kings, who placed him on waivers. The Columbus Blue Jackets claimed him on October 7. Cracknell appeared in 17 games for the Blue Jackets, recording one assist. Cracknell also appeared in 18 games for the Blue Jackets AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, and recorded three goals and seven points.
Return to St. Louis On February 26, 2015, Cracknell was reacquired by the Blues in exchange for future considerations. Cracknell spent the remainder of the season with the Wolves.
Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers On August 25, 2015, the Vancouver Canucks signed Cracknell as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract. Expected to begin the year with the Utica Comets, Cracknell impressed at training camp and was named to the Canucks' opening night roster for the 2015–16 season. On October 12, 2015, he scored his first goal for the Canucks. Cracknell appeared in a career-high 44 games in Vancouver before he was placed on waivers and claimed by the Edmonton Oilers on February 29, 2016.
Dallas Stars On July 3, 2016, Cracknell moved again, signing as a free agent with the Dallas Stars on a one-year, two-way contract. In his first game with the Stars, Cracknell recorded 2 points with a goal and an assist. On March 24, 2017, Cracknell scored his first career hat trick in a 6–1 win against the San Jose Sharks.
New York Rangers Cracknell played in a single game with the Stars to start the 2017–18 season before he was placed on waivers. On October 9, 2017, his tenure with the Stars ended, as the New York Rangers claimed Cracknell off waivers. After playing four games with the Rangers, Cracknell was placed on waivers on October 24 and later reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Montreal Canadiens Cracknell appeared in 15 games with the Wolf Pack before he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Peter Holland on November 30, 2017. Cracknell was immediately assigned to the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket and played out the remainder of the season, contributing with 27 goals and 48 points in 52 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks On July 1, 2018, a free agent, Cracknell agreed to a one-year, $650,000 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the ensuing 2018–19 season, Cracknell appeared in 14 games and posted 10 points with AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies before the Maple Leafs traded him to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Steven Oleksy on December 10, 2018.
Kunlun Red Star After spending his first 13 professional seasons in North America, Cracknell left the NHL and signed his first contract abroad, agreeing to a one-year contract with Chinese club Kunlun Red Star of the KHL on July 4, 2019.
Return to Edmonton On September 10, 2020, Cracknell returned to North America and the Oilers' organization, signing a one-year, two-way contract. Assigned to the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors for the pandemic delayed 2020-21 season, Cracknell appeared in all 39 regular season games posting 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points, placing third on the team in scoring. He helped the Condors claim the Pacific Division title in a playoff format by leading the club with 10 points in six postseason games.
An impending unrestricted free agent, Cracknell opted to remain within the Oilers organization, agreeing to a one-year AHL contract to continue with the Condors on June 2, 2021.
Tucson Roadrunners and Henderson Silver Knights Following two seasons with the Condors, Cracknell left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Tucson Roadrunners, a primary affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes, on July 26, 2022.
On July 5, 2023, Cracknell signed a one-year contract with the Henderson Silver Knights.
Slovakia On September 10, 2024, Cracknell signed a one-year contract with HK Poprad of the Slovak Extraliga.
International play In January 2022, Cracknell was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2002–03Kootenay IceWHL67741137110002 2003–04Kootenay IceWHL722635616341122 2004–05Kootenay IceWHL72192948651688166 2005–06Kootenay IceWHL724251938561456 2005–06Omaha Ak–Sar–Ben KnightsAHL61232————— 2006–07Las Vegas WranglersECHL31814223583366 2007–08Las Vegas WranglersECHL612930594721913224 2007–08Quad City FlamesAHL41010————— 2008–09Quad City FlamesAHL7910162636————— 2009–10Peoria RivermenAHL7617213840————— 2010–11Peoria RivermenAHL61619255442020 2010–11St. Louis BluesNHL243478————— 2011–12Peoria RivermenAHL7223264954————— 2011–12St. Louis BluesNHL21010————— 2012–13Peoria RivermenAHL4917163326————— 2012–13St. Louis BluesNHL20246450000 2013–14St. Louis BluesNHL19022051012 2013–14Chicago WolvesAHL28121325873142 2014–15Columbus Blue JacketsNHL170112————— 2014–15Springfield FalconsAHL183472————— 2014–15Chicago WolvesAHL227613851014 2015–16Vancouver CanucksNHL44551014————— 2015–16Edmonton OilersNHL80006————— 2016–17Dallas StarsNHL691061612————— 2017–18Dallas StarsNHL10000————— 2017–18New York RangersNHL40000————— 2017–18Hartford Wolf PackAHL152136————— 2017–18Laval RocketAHL5427214842————— 2018–19Toronto MarliesAHL14371010————— 2018–19San Diego GullsAHL32151328181579160 2018–19Anaheim DucksNHL20000————— 2019–20Kunlun Red StarKHL5210142416————— 2020–21 Esbjerg EnergyDEN179132234————— 2020–21Bakersfield CondorsAHL3911193010637100 2021–22Bakersfield CondorsAHL582126471651012 2022–23Tucson RoadrunnersAHL642132533431120 2023–24Henderson Silver KnightsAHL5918173510————— 2024–25HK PopradSlovak5435245916532525 2025–26HK PopradSlovak53243458721157122 NHL totals 210 21 22 43 46 10 1 0 1 2
International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2022 Canada OG 6th 5 0 1 1 0 Senior totals 5 0 1 1 0
Awards and honours Award Year WHL West Second All-Star Team 2006
References
External links