When he signed a one-year contract to stay in Chicago this year, most observers assumed that former first round pick Jack Skille was a lock to make the NHL roster.
Skille, 23, has good size (6’1, 215) but has never been able to translate his effective play from the AHL to Chicago. However, a popular rationalization for his limited action in Chicago was his inflated cap number (over $1M) because he was the seventh overall pick in the 2005 Draft. Apologists claimed that, if he got a chance, he could perform at the NHL level.
Now is his chance.
After the departures of so many depth players in the Hawks forward lines, it appeared that Skille had the concrete ceiling keeping him in Rockford broken down. On paper, the Blackhawks needed to replace at least one top-six forward and most of their bottom two lines. This was the ideal opportunity for Skille, who’s cap number was significantly lower because his rookie contract had expired, to see playing time.
However, the trades that sent many of the depth players out of town may hurt Skille’s chances more than they helped him.
When the Blackhawks hosted their prospe ...
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Article written by TAB BAMFORD
Jack Skille No Longer A Lock To Make The Chicago Blackhawks Roster
September 22nd, 2010 by TAB BAMFORD Leave a reply »
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