The thing is...I'm not even a big Skille fan - or think he's a star in the making, etc. He's a depth player, making 500K...a 3rd/4th liner. I think he hustles, plays/works hard, etc. It's not his fault where he was drafted (whats he supposed to do....turn down when he's picked?)
I've never heard bitching out of him if/when others got pulled up (his number were good enough in the AHL to get more looks, IMO), but his salary prob hurt him there. (He didnt hold out to get big money, so his salary wasnt inflated....just didnt fit with the cap). He goes, signs for bare minimum to get a shot to contribute and is working hard in the 10min a game he gets.
I do think he can score more than he has - and I'm sure he's gripping the stick tight trying to get that goal, which isnt heping. I give a rats ass that "technically he's been a pro for 4 years" .....playing 30 gms in 3 years doesnt make him a grizzled vet in my book. But if Mr. Techical wants to call him a vet, then in the first year where he got to play 16gms he had 3g - 2a - 5pts ....pace for 15g - 10a - 25pts...which wouldnt have been bad for a 19 year old kid. Cap restraints hurt his call up, and he put up consistant numbers in the AHL the next 2 years - 58gms - 20g - 45pts and 23g - 49pts - in 63gms. His goals per game the last 2 years have been the best 1 year, 2nd best the next - and last year, at 22 - even though it's been hs 3rd year "pro" in the AHL - he was still only 22 - one of the youngest on the team, all 3 years he's been there.
Haeckel is rapidly approaching HF50. Maybe IF his blogs START to WRITE mixing the CAPS in there, OR he gives SKILLE a nickname...HE WOULD suprass.
