Chicago Blackhawks Surprisingly Recall Ville Pokka

The Chicago Blackhawks made a roster move today when they announced that Cody Franson has been placed on Injured Reserve and Ville Pokka would be recalled from Rockford. 

Just when the Chicago Blackhawks defense seemed like it was starting to settle in, Cody Franson gets injured and Jan Rutta looked like he suffered a concussion last night.  Joel Quenneville says that Rutta seemed better after the game, but with both Franson out and Rutta possibly out, the Hawks really needed a right handed defenseman so Pokka was next in line.

The Chicago Blackhawks have been pretty healthy all season long which made them put Tanner Kero threw waivers to get Vinnie Hinostroza called up.  Being healthy is always a nice option especially midway through December.

Jordan Oesterle was scratched for 18 straight games before getting to play after the Cody Franson injury.  Now he looks to be in the lineup on a nightly basis for the foreseeable future.

I just wasn’t ready to see a Ville Pokka recall update on my phone today. Pokka stats in Rockford aren’t going to blow you away either.  He’s scored 3 times and picked up 9 assists in 26 games with a plus minus rating of zero.

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The biggest reason Pokka hasn’t made it to the NHL so far has been his skating according to many.  Hopefully his skating has been improving because everyone on the Chicago Blackhawks upcoming schedule knows how to skate including the superfast Winnipeg Jets whom the Hawks visit tomorrow night.

Coming into the season, the defense would have been most peoples number one worry, but as the season has gone on it’s really been the offense that has been the shortcoming of the season.  Sure, the new Hawks defense has had some lapses, but overall they were starting to show a lot of continuity.  Hopefully these two injuries to Franson and Rutta doesn’t set back the growth that they have shown so far this season.

Next: This Weeks NHL Power Rankings

It’s weird to say that Pokka is with the Blackhawks! What are your thoughts on the moves today?