Jack Skille
Jack Skille (born May 19, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey right winger. He currently plays with the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He had previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, and the Vancouver Canucks. He has a podcast, the Jack Skille show.
| Jack Skille | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Skille with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014 | |||
| Born |
May 19, 1987 Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb) | ||
| Position | Right Wing | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| DEL team Former teams |
Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers Chicago Blackhawks Florida Panthers Rosenborg IHK Columbus Blue Jackets Colorado Avalanche Vancouver Canucks Dinamo Minsk Genève-Servette HC | ||
| National team |
 United States | ||
| NHL Draft |
7th overall, 2005 Chicago Blackhawks | ||
| Playing career | 2007–present | ||
Playing career
Amateur
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
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.
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.
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 Avalache 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]
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 | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2002–03 | Verona Area High School | HS-WI | — | 28 | 25 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | U.S. NTDP U17 | USDP | 33 | 14 | 10 | 24 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | U.S. NTDP U18 | NAHL | 28 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | U.S. NTDP U18 | NAHL | 16 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | U.S. NTDP U18 | USDP | 26 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | University of Wisconsin–Madison | WCHA | 39 | 13 | 7 | 20 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | University of Wisconsin–Madison | WCHA | 26 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 9 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 59 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 44 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 16 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 58 | 20 | 25 | 45 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 63 | 23 | 26 | 49 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 49 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 46 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Rosenborg IHK | NOR | 9 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 40 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Springfield Falcons | AHL | 22 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 16 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 45 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 74 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 55 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Dinamo Minsk | KHL | 41 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Genève-Servette HC | NL | 23 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers | DEL | 16 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| AHL totals | 211 | 76 | 84 | 160 | 159 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||||
| NHL totals | 368 | 43 | 41 | 84 | 118 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
International
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing United States | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Hockey Championship | ||
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon} | 2007 Leksand | |
| Under-18 World Championships | ||
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon} | 2005 Pilsen | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon} | 2004 Minsk | |
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | United States | U17 | 4th | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 14 | |
| 2004 | United States | WJC18 |  |
6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2005 | United States | WJC18 |  |
6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | |
| 2006 | United States | WJC | 4th | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2007 | United States | WJC |  |
7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 14 | |
| 2011 | United States | WC | 8th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 26 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 30 | ||||
| Senior totals | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
References
- Eidelbes, Mike (2006-03-26). "Fourth on the Line Chart, Number One in Your Hearts". Inside College Hockey. Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
- "Panthers acquire trio from Chicago". Florida Panthers. 2011-02-09. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- Lillealtern, Randi (11 October 2012). "Jack Skille fra NHL til Rosenborg" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- "Blue Jackets sign Skille to two-way contract". The Sports Network. 2013-07-06. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
- "Islanders sign three to two-way deals". National Hockey League. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
- "Blue Jackets claim forward Jack Skille off waivers". Columbus Blue Jackets. 2014-10-05. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
- "Meszaros, Skille sign professional try-out contracts". Colorado Avalanche. 2015-09-16. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
- "Avalanche signs Jack Skille". Colorado Avalanche. 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
- "Skille signed to PTO contract". Vancouver Canucks. 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
- "@JackSkille remains with the #Canucks and will be signed, according to Benning". Vancouver Canucks. 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
- "Canucks Sign Jack Skille to One-Year Contract". NHL.com. October 13, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- "Senators announce 2018-19 training camp roster". Ottawa Senators. 2018-09-12. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
- "Jack Skille: Released from PTO". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
- "Forward Jack Skille has agreed to terms with Genève-Servette HC". www.swisshockeynews.ch. 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
- "Los Angeles Kings Game Notes" (PDF). NHL.com. 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
- "Blackhawks Mailbag: Jack Skille". Chicago Blackhawks. August 9, 2005.
- "Skille On Shelf For Prospects Camp". Chicago Blackhawks. August 22, 2005.
- "Eye on the Hawks Video: Jack Skille". Chicago Blackhawks. July 7, 2006.
- "Skille In Elite Class Of Western Conference Rookies". Chicago Blackhawks. September 18, 2008.
- Boron, Brad (September 29, 2008). "Skille, Brouwer Waiting In The Wings". Chicago Blackhawks.
- Rosen, Dan (October 13, 2008). "Skille Ready To Show He Belongs". Chicago Blackhawks.
- Bamford, Tab (February 5, 2010). "Jack Skille: What to Do with the Blackhawks Prospect?". Committed Indians.
- "AHL Update: Skille Knocking On The Door Of NHL". Chicago Blackhawks. March 30, 2010.
- Bamford, Tab (July 15, 2010). "Blackhawks Sign Jack Skille". Committed Indians.
- "Blackhawks re-sign Bickell and Skille". Chicago Blackhawks. July 28, 2010.
- "Blackhawks re-sign Bickell, Skille". USA Today. July 28, 2010.
- Bamford, Tab (November 14, 2010). "Jack Skille Arrives, Blackhawks Depart Nashville A Loser". Committed Indians.
- Jahns, Adam L. (December 12, 2010). "Skille likes fast track". Chicago Sun Times.
- Rogers, Jesse (December 22, 2010). "Skille, Bickell step up for Hawks". ESPN.
- Kuc, Chris (December 23, 2010). "Hawks' Skille keeps shooting". Chicago Tribune.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cam Barker |
Chicago Blackhawks first round draft pick 2005 |
Succeeded by Jonathan Toews |