CHICAGO — Teuvo Teravainen has emerged as a stabilizing force for the Chicago Blackhawks during this rebuilding phase of his career with the team. His influence on the ice is particularly noticeable, as highlighted by his linemate Jason Dickinson.
“I try to maintain a sense of calm when playing, but Teuvo takes it to another level,” Dickinson shared. “Once he’s in control of the puck, I know he’s going to execute a play, and everything will be fine.”
After a rocky beginning to the season, Teravainen has transformed into one of Chicago’s standout players over the last month. The 30-year-old winger has tallied four goals and 16 assists in the past 16 games, recently contributing two assists during the Blackhawks’ unexpected 5-3 win against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Looking ahead, Teravainen is set to face his previous team, the Carolina Hurricanes, in a game on Monday night. He has been selected to represent Finland in next month’s 4 Nations Face-Off and previously spent eight seasons with Carolina before signing a three-year contract worth $16.2 million with Chicago.
Reflecting on his time in Carolina, Teravainen noted, “I have a lot of fond memories from my time there. The core group of players remained the same for an extended period, allowing me to build close relationships. Plus, there were many fellow Finns, which made it enjoyable.”
Starting as a highly regarded prospect for the Blackhawks, Teravainen was picked in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft and made his professional debut in 2014. He played a crucial role in the Blackhawks’ 2015 Stanley Cup victory, but was traded to the Hurricanes in June 2016 as part of a strategy to manage salary cap constraints by offloading Bryan Bickell’s contract.
During his time with the Hurricanes, he established himself as a valuable forward, thriving in their fast-paced system. Teravainen hit a career-high with 25 goals and 28 assists in his last season with the team and recorded a remarkable 55 assists in the 2018-2019 campaign.
He garnered praise from Carolina’s coach Rod Brind’Amour, who said, “Teuvo was an exceptional player for us. His skill set is among the best, and he demonstrates high intelligence on the ice, regardless of the situation.”
Throughout his 12 seasons in the NHL, Teravainen has participated in the playoffs eight times but has not reached the Stanley Cup Finals since his debut year. The Hurricanes fell short in the Eastern Conference Finals both in 2019 and 2023.
Teravainen characterized the Hurricanes’ playing style as aggressive, stating, “They exert a lot of pressure on the opposition to force errors. Once they capitalize on turnovers, it becomes really difficult to play against them consistently.”
In his second tenure with Chicago, Teravainen initially struggled, with just three goals and three assists over the first 25 games. Recently, however, he has found his rhythm alongside solid linemates Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev.
“This line has been producing good results lately,” he remarked. “We’ve faced some challenging matchups, yet we’re holding our own against top opposing lines.”
As Teravainen’s performance improves, the Blackhawks face the reality of a challenging season, holding a dismal record of 7-16-1 in their past 24 games prior to the matchup against the Hurricanes.
Despite the team’s struggles, Teravainen’s contribution transcends mere statistics. “His composure is remarkable. He can manage pressure effectively,” interim head coach Anders Sorensen noted. “He positions himself well to control the puck and serves as a prime example for younger players on how to navigate challenging situations in the game.”
