Adam Cracknell says goodbye to the Stars, excited for opportunity with Rangers

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Stars said goodbye to Adam Cracknell after practice Monday.

Cracknell, a veteran depth forward, was claimed on waivers by the New York Rangers. Cracknell went into Stars general manager Jim Nill’s office around 10:45 a.m. and found out about the claim.

“I think it’s exciting, I know it’s an opportunity for me again,” Cracknell said. “And it’s kind of the story of my career and I have to take advantage of it again. Obviously I planned to be here, but this is part of the job. Probably the sixth or seventh team now, so just have to go there and adjust and play my game again.”

Roughly an hour later Cracknell was still at the rink when Stars finished up practice. He had a lengthy conversation with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, while he also made sure to personally say good bye to as many players as possible.

You wouldn’t have expected anything else from Cracknell, who had established himself as one of the best teammates in the Stars locker room. Before each practice Cracknell was often the first player on the ice, sometimes by a good 25 minutes, and would work with goalie coach Jeff Reese to warm-up the goalies.

After a disappointing 2015-16 season for Stars, Seguin summed it up perfectly when he said, “we all had bad seasons. Well all of us except Cracknell.”

In 69 games last season Cracknell had 10 goals and six assists. He also had his first career hat trick.

Now Cracknell gets to re-unite with a coach he impressed last season. Lindy Ruff was a big fan of the Cracknell’s effort and play last season. Now an assistant with the Rangers, Ruff’s presence on staff made it an easy decision for a Rangers team desperately looking for a depth forward.

“I had a good year last year and I’ve kept good relationships with coaches I’ve played with,” Cracknell said. “Now it’s worked out and I’ve got to keep going that way and hopefully have another season like I had last year.”

This will be Cracknell’s seventh NHL organization, and it’s the third time in his career he’s been claimed on waivers.

Cracknell said he’s not going to change how he plays his game in New York.

“I just went out and played hard and tried to keep things simple, that’s the easiest thing for me, it’s how I’m effective,” he said. “Going back with a coach I know, and I know he probably had a big part in this in getting me to the Rangers, so just looking forward to getting going.”

So why did the Stars decide to part ways with the 32-year-old?

There were younger, faster players that were deserving of a spot.

“I think quite frankly the feeling out of camp was, that the cap is the cap,” Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said. “And we had people down there (in the AHL) that quite frankly deserved a chance up here, so that become part of the focus. And when they went down there and absolutely lit it up, (it was) pretty simple (decision).”

“The league has gone up a whole nother gear. This is a frenetic pace like I’ve never seen before,” Hitchcock added. “Anybody that is a bigger, heavy footed player at times, it doesn’t matter who you are, you’re going to have to work to get up to this pace.”

The Stars haven’t announced a call-up yet, but it’s expected that Remi Elie or Jason Dickinson will be recalled before Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.