Jack Skille

Former first round bust Skille will have a hard time winning a spot on an improving Blue Jackets' roster.

Skille enters his third year with the Panthers fresh off the shoulder surgery that ended his 2011-2012 season early. Skille has been cleared to return to action and will look to live up to the potential teams saw in the former first-round pick. Injuries and inconsistent play have dogged him for years, but Skille's offensive potential makes him an attractive sleeper option heading into camp. In 46 games played this past season. Skille was a minus-9 with four goals and six assists.

Skille scored eight goals and added 11 assists (62 games), splitting time between the Blackhawks and the Panthers this past season. The Panthers signed the 24-year old winger to a two-year deal in the offseason. With excellent speed and a knack for physical play,Skille is a player worth keeping an eye on as fantasy drafts advance to the deeper rounds. The change of scenery could benefit Skille greatly, as the former first-round pick had lacked consistent playing time in Chicago. Skille has sleeper potential and could hit the 25-point mark in 2011-12.

Skille has been a popular call-up for the Blackhawks in recent years. The Wisconsin native is equally adept at scoring and setting up others for scores. Just last season, he potted 23 goals with the Rockford IceHogs which helped him land a one-year contract with the Hawks in July, 2010. He's widely considered to be NHL ready.

The 22-year-old right winger is ready to move up to the big team, but the problem is there is too much depth in front of him. He had a big camp last season and is ready to go again after a 45-point effort in 58 games with Rockford (AHL). Skille was the seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft and put up much better numbers in his second run with the IceHogs, but he's going to have a difficult time finding a spot on one of the scoring lines if he's able to break camp with the Hawks.

A 22-year-old winger with tons of offensive skills, Skille has to work on his defense before he becomes a fixture on the Blackhawks roster. He is battling for one of the final roster spots in training camp, but will likely spend some more time in the AHL this season. Keeper leagues should look for Skille to have an impact in a couple of seasons.

After Skille finished his sophomore season at the University of Wisconsin, he joined Norfolk of the AHL for their final nine regular season games. In those nine games, Skille picked up four goals and eight points. When it comes to the world of fantasy hockey, Skille doesn't have the upside that Jonathan Toews does, but it's a very strong possibility that he will once day have some fantasy value. Chicago would be wise to let Skille spend some more time in the AHL before he is given a full-time job with the Blackhawks.

While knocked for possessing only average hockey sense, Skille is blessed with the speed, skill and tenacity required to become an NHL player. A product of the US under-18 development program, he is committed to playing for the University of Wisconsin Badgers for 2005-2006.