Patrick Kane, Michal Kempny and Ville Pokka will join Chicago Blackhawks training camp Tuesday after being eliminated from the World Cup of Hockey, Hawks assistant coach Kevin Dineen told reporters Saturday.
Kane had two assists in three games, all Team USA losses, at the tournament. The 27-year-old winger had the best season of his professional career with the Hawks in 2015-16, winning the Art Ross Trophy as the National Hockey League’s point leader (106) and Hart Trophy winner as league MVP. He’s not expected to play in Wednesday’s preseason opener against Pittsburgh.
Kempny, a 26-year-old Czech defenseman, who spent last season with Avangard Omsk of the KHL played a key role for Czech Republic at the World Cup. He scored five goals with 16 assists in 59 games last season.
Pokka, 22, is entering the final year of his entry-level contract with the Hawks. The Finnish blue liner spent the past two seasons with Hawks’ AHL affiliate in Rockford and has yet to see ice time in the NHL. He started the World Cup on a high note with a miraculous play to save a goal against Team North America, but then it went down hill from there.
Dineen said there’s also a chance either Pokka or Kempny could play in Wednesday’s exhibition vs. Pittsburgh. #Blackhawks
— Tracey Myers (@TramyersCSN) September 24, 2016