Jack Skille signs with Blackhawks, brought up from the Icehogs

DP · Jul 15, 2010

BleacherReport.com

Jack Skille has been mentioned multiple times by Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman as having a chance to play a bigger role in 2010-11.

Skille, a restricted free agent, just needed to be signed. Now, that appears to be done. The Hawks and Skille's camp have agreed upon a one-year deal, a source said.

Update: The deal is worth $600,000. That's a big difference than his cap hit of more than $1 million the past few years. That inflated cap hit was a reason why Skille didn't see much time with the Hawks.

Skille was drafted by the Hawks with the seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft. Skille played at Wisconsin before joining the Rockford IceHogs, the Hawks' American Hockey League affiliate. He had 23 goals and 49 points for Rockford in 2009-10.

Skille's biggest asset is his speed. The 6-1, 215-pound winger also isn't afraid to be physical. Skille could prove to be valuable in a checking role for the Hawks, possibly making up for the losses of Kris Versteeg and Andrew Ladd on Dave Bolland's line. Versteeg and Ladd were traded this summer.

A Madison, Wis. native, Skille has played in 30 games with the Hawks, recording five goals and eight points. He appeared in a career-high 16 games in the 2007-08 season and scored three goals. He played in only six games in 2009-10.

The Hawks are also close to signing winger Bryan Bickell, another RFA. Like Skille, Bowman has said Bickell will have a chance at an expanded role this coming season. A source said Bickell will possibly get a multi-year deal.

Bickell, a physical 6-4, 223-pounder, was recalled from the IceHogs the most by the Hawks in 2009-10. He had three goals, four points and a plus-4 rating in 16 games in the regular season, seeing time on the top line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. He also played in four games in the playoffs, finishing with an assist and a plus-3 rating.
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This excites me. Skille has great talent. He does well in Rockford, hope he can do that in Chicago.

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Jack Skille signs with Blackhawks, brought up from the Icehogs

DP He shoots, he scores!

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Jack Skille signs with Blackhawks, brought up from the Icehogs

DP He shoots, he scores!

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