News: Ville Pokka goes to KHL

[torniojaws]

The original Finnish source: Siirtoyllätys kesken MM-kisojen: Leijonien NHL-pelaaja lähtee Venäjälle
And a more reliable one: IL: Leijona-puolustaja Pokka vaihtaa AHL-jäiltä KHL:ään

He will join Avangard Omsk in the KHL, starting next season.

Too bad he never got a good chance in the NHL, but I guess his skating was the killer.

Click to read more...

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Oof

 

[ColdSteel2]

Just not cut out for the new NHL, should do well in the KHL.

 

[DarkHorse2]

Once again for the people in the back:
Nick Leddy for Ville Pokka, TJ Brennan and the rights to Anders Nilsson.

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Yeah, I can see him struggling during the IIHF tournament.

 

[MMC]

Do the senators retain his rights?

 

[stempniaksen]

Huh, figured he would stick around for another year since he would have had a legitimate chance to win a spot with the Sens in training camp (only other RHD under contract are Karlsson, Ceci and Christian Jaros. I guess they may have given him an indication that he wasn't in their plans?.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Once again for the people in the back:
Nick Leddy for Ville Pokka, TJ Brennan and the rights to Anders Nilsson.

Thanks for the reminder...

 

[ChiHawk21]

Once again for the people in the back:
Nick Leddy for Ville Pokka, TJ Brennan and the rights to Anders Nilsson.

 

[belair]

Once again for the people in the back:
Nick Leddy for Ville Pokka, TJ Brennan and the rights to Anders Nilsson.

Wasn't he -817 this year?

 

[mouser]

Do the senators retain his rights?

If they QO him.

 

[East Coast Icestyle]

He's been overrated for awhile. Maybe not Rundblad levels but meh. He doesn't skate too well and I don't think much of his hockey IQ. Three teams and no real NHL chances for a reason.

 

[JJTT]

Had decent potential but still is the basicly the same player as he was 4 years ago. Weird how he couldn't make any improvements to his skating.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

He's been overrated for awhile. Maybe not Rundblad levels but meh. He doesn't skate too well and I don't think much of his hockey IQ. Three teams and no real NHL chances for a reason.

Overrated? No one even knows who he is.

 

[Hostile Offer]

Yeah, I can see him struggling during the IIHF tournament.

He's been great so far in there although he hasn't been tested a whole lot. I guess this is a good move for him, his development has stagnated big time and a complete change of scenery might do wonders.

 

[rent free]

Once again for the people in the back:
Nick Leddy for Ville Pokka, TJ Brennan and the rights to Anders Nilsson.

and they still won a cup without him

 

[East Coast Icestyle]

Overrated? No one even knows who he is.

What? He's been heralded as a futuretop 4 d for the past 5 years

 

[Kaako Kappo]

What? He's been heralded as a futuretop 4 d for the past 5 years

By who? This was maybe true 4-5 years ago when he was a fresh prospect.

 

[SI90]

I had high hopes for him when he was an islanders prospect. Obviously wouldn’t take back the Leddy trade but I always thought Pokka would become a nice #3/4 Defensman who contributed on offense.

 

[Finnislander]

Wasn't he -817 this year?

Yea, but the other three combined for 27 NHL games and 3,44 GAA.

 

[MMC]

 

[THall4]

He's been overrated for awhile. Maybe not Rundblad levels but meh. He doesn't skate too well and I don't think much of his hockey IQ. Three teams and no real NHL chances for a reason.

This.

Id be surprised if the Sens gave him a QO...and id be equally as stunned to ever see him back in NA again.

 

[Calad]

Once again for the people in the back:
Nick Leddy for Ville Pokka, TJ Brennan and the rights to Anders Nilsson.

How long is Tavares resigned for?

 

[McDrailers]

I had high hopes for him when he was an islanders prospect. Obviously wouldn’t take back the Leddy trade but I always thought Pokka would become a nice #3/4 Defensman who contributed on offense.

He does this....for the team not wearing the same jersey as him.

He was always a solid pickup in the eaNHL world. I was rooting for him since the Leddy trade. Good luck overseas Ville

 

[Saekk]

How long is Tavares resigned for?

I don't think Tavares is in that much of a hurry to get out of Islanders.