Jack Skille

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Jack Skille
Jack Skille - Columbus Blue Jackets 2014.jpg
Skille with the Columbus Blue Jackets in November 2014
Born (1987-05-19) May 19, 1987 (age 37)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Chicago Blackhawks
Florida Panthers
Rosenborg IHK
Columbus Blue Jackets
Colorado Avalanche
Vancouver Canucks
Dinamo Minsk
Genève-Servette HC
Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers
EC Red Bull Salzburg
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL draft 7th overall, 2005
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 20072021

Jack Skille (born May 19, 1987) is an American former professional ice hockey right winger. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, and the Vancouver Canucks.

Contents

Playing career

Amateur

Skille with University of Wisconsin in March 2006 as he scores the game-winning goal against Cornell University. Skille scores badedit.jpg
Skille with University of Wisconsin in March 2006 as he scores the game-winning goal against Cornell University.

As a highly regarded forward prospect, Skille was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks with the seventh overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft out of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. Skille was the third in the group of eight American-born players that were selected in the first round, surpassing the previous record of seven Americans selected in the first round in both 1986 and 2003.

In his freshman campaign at the University of Wisconsin–Madison for the Badgers men's ice hockey team, he made an immediate impact, leading all Badger freshmen in scoring with 12 goals and seven assists for 19 points. He also finished the season as the eighth-leading point-scorer for the team. Skille's goal 11:13 into the third overtime propelled the top-seeded Badgers past Cornell University 1–0 on March 26, 2006, in the NCAA Midwest Regional Final at the Resch Center, and into the team's first Frozen Four since 1992. [1]

In his sophomore year, Skille suffered an injury that made him sit out a good portion of the season. After the Badgers failed to qualify for the 2007 NCAA tournament, Skille signed with the Norfolk Admirals, the Chicago Blackhawks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.

Professional

Skille during his tenure with the Blackhawks in November 2010. Jackskille.jpg
Skille during his tenure with the Blackhawks in November 2010.

After signing with the Blackhawks to a three-year, entry-level contract, Skille was assigned to the team's AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.

Skille made his NHL debut against the Los Angeles Kings on December 30, 2007. He was brought up from the IceHogs to cover for an injured player, and later scored his first career NHL goal and assist on January 8, 2008, against Cristobal Huet of the Montreal Canadiens. Skille was later selected to represent Rockford at the 2010 AHL All-Star Game.

Prior to signing with the Blackhawks for the 2010–11 season, Skille appeared in 30 games with the Blackhawks over three seasons (2007 to 2010), collecting eight points (five goals and three assists) and five penalty minutes, including two points (one goal and one assist ) in six regular season games with Chicago during the team's 2009–10 Stanley Cup-winning campaign. Skille received a ring from the Blackhawks but his name was not included on the Stanley Cup and wasn't given a personal day with the Cup over the off-season.

During his first full season with the Blackhawks, on February 9, 2011, Skille was traded, along with Hugh Jessiman and David Pacan, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Michael Frolík and Alexander Salák. [2]

As a result of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Skille signed with the GET-ligaen side Rosenborg of Norway to play until the end of the lockout. Skille did not receive any wages from Rosenborg, and was the first NHL player to play in the Norwegian league during the lockout. [3]

On July 6, 2013, Skille was signed as a free agent by the Columbus Blue Jackets to a one-year, two-way contract. [4] During a stretch with the Blue Jackets, he scored four goals in seven games played at the time.[ citation needed ]

On July 1, 2014, Skille was again on the move, signing as a free agent on a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Islanders. [5] However, Skille returned to the Blue Jackets at the beginning of the 2014–15 season, on October 5, 2014, after being claimed off waivers. [6] As a depth forward in his second season with the Blue Jackets, Skille appeared in 45 games scoring 6 goals.

As an unrestricted free agent, Skille left the Blue Jackets for a second successive season, however was unable to secure a contract in the off-season. On September 16, 2015, Skille signed a professional try-out contract to attend the 2015 training camp of the Colorado Avalanche. [7] On October 6, 2015, after impressing in depth position in the pre-season the Avalanche announced they had signed Skille to a one-year, two-way contract. [8] In a fourth line role, Skille remained with the Avalanche for the duration of the 2015–16 season, appearing in 74 games and registering 8 goals for 14 points.

Over the following off-season, Skille agreed to attend the Vancouver Canucks training camp, as a free agent, on a professional try-out basis on September 19, 2016. [9] On October 11, 2016, the Vancouver Canucks announced that Skille had made it into the team's 23-man opening roster. [10] On October 13, 2016, Skille was awarded a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Vancouver Canucks. [11]

Following the 2017–18 season, having opted to play abroad in the Kontinental Hockey League with Belarusian club, HC Dinamo Minsk, Skille returned to North America as a free agent in the summer. Approaching the 2018–19 season, Skille accepted a professional try-out contract to attend the Ottawa Senators training camp on September 12, 2018. [12] He was released from his professional try-out contract on September 23, 2018. [13]

Skille in March 2012 with the Panthers. Jack Skille 2012-03-09.JPG
Skille in March 2012 with the Panthers.

On October 1, 2018, Skille signed a one-year contract worth CHF 650,000 with Genève-Servette HC of the National League as a replacement for injured Lance Bouma. [14] Skille played 23 regular season games (10 points) and only appeared in 2 of the team's 6 playoffs games, failing to score a single point. He was not offered a contract extension, becoming a free agent.

International play

Prior to joining the Badgers was a member of the USA Hockey-sponsored National Development Team. He won a gold medal at the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships in the Czech Republic collecting a goals and three assists in six games at the championship. Skille collected 24 goals, 31 assists and 55 points in 54 games for the U.S. National Under-18 Team during 2004–05 and was whistled for 76 penalty minutes during the season. In international play as a NDTP player, Skille had tournament-best seven points to lead the Americans to first place at the Four Nations Cup in Ann Arbor, Michigan and led tournament with eight points as U.S. team placed first at Five Nations Tournament in Tjörn, Sweden.

He split the 2003–04 season with the U.S. Under-17 Team and U.S. Under-18 Team, playing in 61 games total, posted 25 goals, 19 assists and 44 points to go along with 61 penalty minutes. He also had a goal and an assist to help U.S. Under-18 Team to silver at 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships in Minsk, Belarus. Prior to him joining the US Development Team, Skille led the Verona Area Wildcats to two WIAA State Hockey Tournament appearances. He had a total of 99 points in the two years with Verona Area.

Personal life

Skille is the son of Lee and Carrie Skille. His father Lee skated at Wisconsin in the mid-1970s, served as the head hockey coach at Century High School in Bismarck, ND and head hockey coach and athletic director at Madison West High School. [15] Skille has two sisters, Maggie and Claire. He attended Huron High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Verona Area High School in Verona, Wisconsin.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2002–03 Verona Area High School HS–WI 282553
2003–04U.S. NTDP U17USDP3314102430
2003–04U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 281192031
2004–05U.S. NTDP U18NAHL166111720
2004–05U.S. NTDP U18USDP269112036
2005–06 University of Wisconsin–Madison WCHA 391372035
2006–07 University of Wisconsin–MadisonWCHA268101812
2006–07 Norfolk Admirals AHL 9448030002
2007–08 Rockford IceHogs AHL5916183444122136
2007–08 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 163250
2008–09 Chicago BlackhawksNHL81015
2008–09 Rockford IceHogsAHL5820254556
2009–10 Chicago BlackhawksNHL61120
2009–10 Rockford IceHogsAHL632326495040000
2010–11 Chicago BlackhawksNHL497101725
2010–11 Florida Panthers NHL131124
2011–12 Florida PanthersNHL46461028
2012–13 Rosenborg IHK NOR 9661220
2012–13 Florida PanthersNHL40391211
2013–14 Springfield Falcons AHL221311249
2013–14 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL16404660110
2014–15 Columbus Blue JacketsNHL4562816
2015–16 Colorado Avalanche NHL74861411
2016–17 Vancouver Canucks NHL5554912
2017–18 Dinamo Minsk KHL 4111142518
2018–19 Genève–Servette HC NL 2355101620000
2019–20 Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers DEL 1673106
2020–21 EC Red Bull Salzburg ICEHL 251010200111122
NHL totals36843418411860110

International

Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Hockey Championship
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2007 Leksand
Under-18 World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2005 Pilsen
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2004 Minsk
YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2004 United States U17 4th523514
2004 United States WJC18 Silver medal icon.svg61124
2005 United StatesWJC18Gold medal icon.svg61348
2006 United States WJC 4th72024
2007 United StatesWJCBronze medal icon.svg715614
2011 United States WC 8th21010
Junior totals26591430
Senior totals21010

References

  1. Eidelbes, Mike (March 26, 2006). "Fourth on the Line Chart, Number One in Your Hearts". Inside College Hockey. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  2. "Panthers acquire trio from Chicago". Florida Panthers. February 9, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  3. Lillealtern, Randi (October 11, 2012). "Jack Skille fra NHL til Rosenborg" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  4. "Blue Jackets sign Skille to two-way contract". The Sports Network. July 6, 2013. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  5. "Islanders sign three to two-way deals". National Hockey League. July 1, 2014. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  6. "Blue Jackets claim forward Jack Skille off waivers". Columbus Blue Jackets. October 5, 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  7. "Meszaros, Skille sign professional try-out contracts". Colorado Avalanche. September 16, 2015. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  8. "Avalanche signs Jack Skille". Colorado Avalanche. October 6, 2015. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  9. "Skille signed to PTO contract". Vancouver Canucks. September 19, 2016. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  10. "@JackSkille remains with the #Canucks and will be signed, according to Benning". Vancouver Canucks. October 11, 2016. Archived from the original on May 31, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  11. "Canucks Sign Jack Skille to One-Year Contract". NHL.com. October 13, 2013. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  12. "Senators announce 2018-19 training camp roster". Ottawa Senators. September 12, 2018. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  13. "Jack Skille: Released from PTO". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  14. "Forward Jack Skille has agreed to terms with Genève-Servette HC". www.swisshockeynews.ch. October 1, 2018. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  15. "Los Angeles Kings Game Notes" (PDF). NHL.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2018. Father Lee skated two seasons at Wisconsin, served as the head hockey coach at Century High School in Bismarck, ND and head hockey coach and athletic director at Madison West High School

Further reading

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Chicago Blackhawks first round draft pick
2005
Succeeded by