As part of our THW Chicago summer series, we’ll introduce you to all the players the Chicago Blackhawks acquired via free agency and trades this offseason. After all, there’s going to be a lot of new faces in training camp this September. We might as well get to know them! Today we’ll discuss a face that’s actually not all that new, since he started his career in Chicago. After eight seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, forward Teuvo Teravainen is coming full circle, returning to the team that drafted him 18th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft.
A Blackhawks’ Beginning
After being drafted in 2012 by the Blackhawks, Teravainen remained in Finland and played two more seasons with his junior club, Jokerit Helsinki. At the end of their 2013-14 season, he got his feet wet in North America, participating in three contests with the Blackhawks and five with the Rockford IceHogs. Coincidentally, it was none other than Kyle Davidson (long before he became general manager) that met Teravainen at the airport when he first came to play in Chicago.
“I don’t even know if he remembers me or if he knows the guy that picked him up is the same person that signed him now. We’ve got a little bit more history there than he may understand.” Davidson also said he drove Teravainen home after games: “Teuvo was the one I picked up and spent the most time with because I was younger and he was by far the youngest. I think I was probably his first friend over here until he navigated the locker room and found some guys to hang out with there and then we let him go with the team after that. It’s funny to see that come full circle where I sign him to a new contract and bring him in as a veteran player.”
Teravainen officially came onto the scene as an everyday player with the Blackhawks in the 2014-15 season. He split his time between the IceHogs (39 games) and the Blackhawks (34 games), and then stayed with the big club for their playoff run. We all know that culminated in a Stanley Cup championship. The Finnish forward contributed four goals and nine points during the regular season and added another four goals and 10 points in 18 postseason games. Not a bad way to start your NHL career!
Teravainen continued his positive progression in the 2015-16 season (13 goals and 35 points in 78 games), and therefore became the sweetener packaged in the deal with the Carolina Hurricanes…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…