‘Journeyman’ Adam Cracknell eager to take advantage of opportunity with Oilers

Photo Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports

New Edmonton Oilers forward Adam Cracknell is 31. He’s considered, funny and well spoken. He’s also extraordinarily self aware and doesn’t hesitate to describe himself as a journeyman.

“Any time you can stay up in the NHL it’s a good day – especially for a guy like myself, y’know, a journeyman,” Cracknell told reporters on Monday, after learning that he’d been claimed by the Oilers. “I think these next 30 or 40 days (left in the season) I have, hopefully I can turn that into next season.”

Cracknell was a late-summer signing for the Canucks, and surprised almost everyone – himself probably included – by making the team out of training camp. From there, he’s stuck with the team all season. He’ll likely earn every penny of the veteran minimum contract that he signed in late August.

“I came in with an attitude of making the team,” Cracknell recalled on Monday, “and being 30 I thought it was my last chance to prove I could really play in this league, and Vancouver gave me the opportunity to do that.”

In Vancouver, Cracknell proved his defensive mettle, he’s a genuinely effective defensive forward in a tertiary role. He was used frequently too, especially early in the season as the Canucks eased teenaged players like Jared McCann and Jake Virtanen into their lineup. 

So he’s used to the mentorship role, and is eager to take on similar responsibilities with the Oilers.

“I’m just going to try and lead by example,” Cracknell said. “I know Mark Letetsu pretty well from Columbus last year, and I think that’s been his role there – to help out the young guys. So hopefully I can just go in there and play my game and not have to worry about anything, definitely excited to see what that team brings. Always a fun team to play against, they’re explosive offensively…”

In Vancouver, Cracknell became something of a go-to quote for the media. When I first interviewed him he jokingly asked me if I was certain I was talking to the right guy. Over the past month though, he was constantly surrounding by cameras and voice recorders. 

There’s a reason for this. Cracknell is thoughtful and funny. 

On the subject of how he’s experienced deadline day, Cracknell joked that he was up as early as the media assembled to cover him.

“I’ve been up since 5 am, counting down,” Cracknell said. “I think I could’ve worked for TSN, I was up as early as you guys were. That’s part of the business, I was definitely nervous. I thought that last game could’ve been my last game in a Canucks jersey, so I’m excited and I have a 1 p.m. flight so it’ll be a quick turnaround.”

He also made light of the possibility that he might be tasked with skating alongside Connor McDavid.

“It’s going to be tough to keep up with (McDavid), Hopefully my groin will stay in tact,” Cracknell joked. “It’s just another opportunity in my career and I’m just excited to throw on the Oilers jersey.”

In Edmonton, Cracknell should be able to bring some grit and credible defensive play to the Oilers’ bottom-six forward group. And he’ll also be looking to show enough to earn his next contract.

If he plays as well for the Oilers as he did for the Canucks, that shouldn’t be a stretch.