Teuvo Teravainen returns to a familiar Chicago Blackhawks team with a mix of new faces. The last time he played for the Blackhawks, back in 2016, Patrick Kane scored 106 points, including 46 goals, and Artemi Panarin was named Rookie of the Year.
Teravainen, then just 21 and in his first full professional season, was part of a squad that had just defended the Stanley Cup, only to fall in a hard-fought first-round series against the St. Louis Blues.
At that time, Jonathan Toews was still the captain, and Corey Crawford had one of his best seasons, starting 58 games and earning a .924 save percentage. Teravainen was a rookie, learning from seasoned players like Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith. Eight years have passed, and much has changed, not only for the Blackhawks but for Teravainen himself.
Now returning to Chicago, Teravainen is no longer the inexperienced rookie. He’s coming back as a veteran after eight seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he played 555 NHL games and amassed 415 points (138 goals, 277 assists). His best offensive season came in 2018-19 when he recorded 76 points, including 21 goals. Just this past season, Teravainen set a personal best in goals, scoring 25 in 76 games.
“I think it’s a good time for me to come back,” Teravainen said after a recent training session, “and try to help this team get to the right place.”
None of the players from Teravainen’s last stint in 2015-16 are still with the Blackhawks, making this team feel completely different. However, some of the staff, like trainers and equipment personnel, are still there, which has helped ease his return.
Blackhawks fans still remember Teravainen as the talented youngster who helped the team in their 2015 Stanley Cup run. Over the years, his game has evolved. While with the Hurricanes, Teravainen took on more defensive responsibilities, playing on the penalty kill and focusing on a more well-rounded style.
“I’ve been playing a lot of defense and penalty kill recently,” he said, “but I feel like I still have my offensive game in me, just waiting to come out. It’s exciting to come back and hopefully show a bit of everything.”
As the Blackhawks head into the preseason, fans will have a chance to see Teravainen, now wearing number 86, not as the rookie he once was, but as a seasoned veteran ready to lead.