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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Adam Cracknell on Life and the NHL Draft

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

Adam Cracknell was one of the few bright spots of the Dallas Stars’ 2016-17 season, so we probably don’t often think about the fact that he was selected in a round that no longer even exists in the NHL Entry Draft – going No. 279, in the ninth, in 2004.

As Scott Burnside writes, The Cracken’s veteran savvy is partly a function of his relatively modest draft status. He’s played for teams ranging from the St. Louis Blues to the Edmonton Oilers, and those are just his NHL stops:

“I think I’m more of the guy that approaches [young players to offer help],” Cracknell explained. “As a young kid coming into the room you don’t want to feel like you’re being a headache or a nuisance.”

He recalled last year playing with Jason Dickinson, the 29th overall pick in 2013, when the youngster joined the Stars for a few games. Cracknell gathered Dickinson and winger Justin Dowling together to chat before a game against Tampa in Florida.

“We just had a bit of a line meeting,” Cracknell said. “Just tried to hopefully settle his nerves a little bit.”

Cracknell also played for head coach Ken Hitchcock during that stint with the Blues:

Having played for [Hitchcock] in St. Louis and having crossed paths with new starting netminder Ben Bishop, Cracknell is full of anticipation and optimism for the coming season.

…

“You’re going to have to sacrifice a lot more the way Hitch wants to play,” Cracknell said.

It’s not going to be easy. But, if there’s one thing a guy drafted 279th overall understands implicitly, it is that it’s not supposed to be easy.

Read more at the Stars’ homepage. [Dallas Stars]

For your draft-day reference: Mark Stepneski has posted the order of all eight Stars picks.

And his latest draft profile is of Tri-City Americans center Michael Rasmussen.

The Stars have started teasing the new Adidas sweaters in earnest. Here’s the latest peek.

And take a long, steamy gawk at some of the 25th-anniversary merchandise available for preorder.

Not everyone is positive about the Bish signing. Is Dallas taking a big chance on Big Ben? Winners View has made a video about it. [Winners View]

Here’s another important offseason signing: Grubes is on board for a fifth season.

The first blockbuster trade of the 2017 NHL offseason? The Montreal Canadiens have traded defender Mikhail Sergachev and a conditional 2018 second-round pick for the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jonathan Drouin and a conditional 2018 sixth-round pick.

Greg Wyshynski says give Marc Bergevin credit: this trade, he won. [Puck Daddy]

Are you ready for 2019 speculation? Los Angeles Kings blueliner Drew Doughty may test the free-agency water, unless he doesn’t. [Sportsnet]

In the latest edition of Down Goes Brown, Sean McIndoe examines some of the most momentous player-for-picks trades of the past three decades, with cameos by Jeff Carter, Daniel Sedin and Cory Schneider.

The Buffalo Sabres have hired Hall of Famer Phil Housley as their new head coach.

Now up on Vintage Game of the Week: The Dallas Stars vs. the Vancouver Canucks, and Marty Turco vs. Roberto Luongo, in a battle for the ages (with a guest-starring appearance by Sergei Zubov).

Former Star Trevor Daley checks in with the Norm & Donnie Show to talk about his second Stanley Cup win.

It’s Police vs. Fire in the 2017 Dallas Strong Hockey Game, Saturday, July 15 at Dr Pepper StarCenter Farmers Branch. Tickets are $5, and the proceeds benefit injured first responders. [Dallas Police Hockey on Facebook]

Finally: Yesterday was the three-year anniversary of the Texas Stars’ 2014 Calder Cup win. It was a really good #ThrowbackThursday for Radek Faksa. Enjoy.

Talking Points