Skille hoping for better things with Panthers

DALLAS — Jack Skille is hoping for a larger role in Florida, and it certainly appears as if he’s going to get it.The Blackhawks traded Skille to Florida on Wednesday for Michael Frolik with prospects also going both ways. Skille is expected to be one of Florida#146;s top nine forwards.Skille told reporters on the way out of town that he still believes he is better than a fourth-line player, which is how Hawks coach Joel Quenneville was using him most of the time.#147;I would have liked to have had a better opportunity, and I think they knew that,#148; Skille told reporters in Florida. #147;That#146;s why they#146;ve given me a chance to go with an organization that really believes in me. Dale (Tallon) drafted me and I know he believes in me as a player.#147;Chicago is a great city and I#146;m going to miss it and all the friends I made over the course of the years I played in that organization. I#146;m excited to play as a Panther.#148;Hawks general manager Stan Bowman liked Skille but said as a right wing it was tough for him to play on the top two lines with Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa on that side.#147;Jack#146;s got some upside to his game,#148; Quenneville said. #147;He has all the attributes to be a successful player and you have to wish him well.#147;Maybe he didn#146;t get a great chance to get the quality or quantity of ice time, but I thought he did a good job in that role and that line was usually effective for us.#148;