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| | Sunday, February 20 | |||||
Special to ESPN.com | ||||||
| Jarrod Skalde views his hockey résumé, which includes stops at 15 different pro cities in 10 seasons, in a positive light. It means somebody always wants him.
"That's the story I'm sticking to, anyway," says the productive centerman for the IHL's Utah Grizzlies.
As Washington's Birthday approached, Skalde was among four players jockeying for the IHL's scoring lead with his usual point-a-game pace. He had 56 after 54 games. But it's an unusual position for Skalde to be in. Not because he can't score, but because he is usually not in one league long enough to qualify for anything except frequent flier miles.
"If you'd have told me nine years ago that I'd be on my 15th team, I'd have said no way. When you break in, you always figure you'll spend your whole career in one place."
Skalde broke into pro hockey with the Devils organization. New Jersey was his first NHL team. He is still with an NHL organization, this time the San Jose Sharks. They own his contract through the end of this season with a club option for next year. And, like virtually everyone in the minors, Skalde is looking very intently at next year and the 46 or so new jobs NHL expansion will bring.
"This is such a big year," he said. "For guys that really want to make it, this is their opportunity to step up if they are ever going to play in the NHL." And while Skalde enjoys Utah and the IHL, at 29 he has not given up on getting back in the big leagues.
"Absolutely not," he said. "In fact, I'm disappointed now that it's already February, and I don't have an NHL game this year."
Skalde has played in 95 NHL games, going 12-19-31 in them. His best minor league seasons were '94-95 when he was 34-41-75 with Las Vegas (IHL) and in '96-97, when he went 32-36-68 at Saint John (AHL). The 15 different teams Skalde has been with are in three leagues. In the NHL, he has played for the Devils, Mighty Ducks, Flames, Sharks, Stars and Blackhawks; IHL teams include Cincinnati, San Diego, Las Vegas, Indianapolis and Utah; in the AHL Skalde has skated for Utica, Baltimore, Saint John and Kentucky. In '97-98, Skalde played for five teams in three leagues, including San Jose, Dallas and Chicago in the NHL. Lack of size and defensive shortcomings hurt him early in his career. Skalde has gotten stronger, and plays better at both ends now. He's been on waivers a lot but doesn't often get through. It's nice to be wanted, even if it means being wanted 15 different times. Notes from the AHLBill Ballou covers professional hockey and baseball for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, MA. | ALSO SEE The Minors: Brochu dominates AHL The Minors: Callander misses mark The Minors: Druken the real deal The Minors: Expansion lessens The Minors: Dionne the best vet The Minors: Ex-Olympian LeBlanc's career The Minors: Campbell home to save career The Minors: Tselios learned from Chelios The Minors: Isles' Luongo worthy of pick  | |||||