The Chicago Blackhawks acquired defensemen Ville Pokka and TJ Brennan in the Nick Leddy and Kent Simpson trade to the New York Islanders before the 2014-15 season. Pokka had been the 34th overall pick of the New York Islanders in the 2012 draft.
Since being acquired by the Blackhawks, Pokka has spent his entire tenure with the organization with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.
While expectations have always been high surrounding Pokka, the opportunities have never been given to him. Rumors had surfaced around the 2016-17 trade deadline that Pokka could be moved in a change-of-scenery type trade.