ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA — The NHL will come when the NHL comes is the way Blackhawks prospect Ville Pokka looks at it.
The Blackhawks have taken a patient approach with Pokka, much like they did when Niklas Hjalmarsson was coming up. Pokka, a 21-year-old defenseman, isn’t in any rush.
Pokka, who was drafted by the New York Islanders in 2012 and traded to the Blackhawks just before the 2014-15 began, took a significant step in his development in his second full season in the Blackhawks’ organization this past year. He spent the season in the AHL and led the Rockford IceHogs in ice time and points.