The Chicago Blackhawks are in desperate need of a veteran penalty killing forward, and it appears to have an abundance of defensemen in NHL and in their system. One defenseman who is blocked and, it appears, will not reach the NHL with the Blackhawks is Ville Pokka.
Pokka was acquired from the New York Islanders in the Nick Leddy deal. Since his acquisition, he has been on everyone’s top-25 Blackhawks’ prospects list. Pokka has been the most highly touted Blackhawks prospect to not play in the NHL.
Pokka, who has been in the Blackhawks’ system for three years, has yet to be recalled to the Blackhawks.