Teravainen returns to a familiar Blackhawks team with new faces

The last time Teuvo Teravainen played with the Chicago Blackhakws, Patrick Kane registered 106 points including 46 goals and Artemi Panarin won the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year. Teravainen was playing in just his first full season as a pro at the age of 21. The Blackhawks were the defending Stanley Cup Champs and lost a tough first round series at the hands of the St. Louis Blues.

The last time Teravainen played with the Blackhawks in 2016, Jonathan Toews was still the captain. Corey Crawford played one of his strongest seasons starting 58 games and putting up a .924 save percentage. Teravainen was a rookie back then, playing alongside veterans like Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith. A lot can change in eight years, and that is true for Teravainen as well.

This is not the same Teuvo Teravainen that last played in Chicago. Teravainen returns to the Blackhawks as a veteran. In his eight seasons with the Hurricanes, he played in 555 NHL games, putting up 415 points (138 G, 277 A) during that time. Teravainen’s best season offensively came in 2018-19 when he put up 76 points, including 21 goals. A big reason for excitement for Chicago fans has to be the fact that this past season he just registered his career high in goals with 25 in 76 games.

“I feel like it’s good for me to come back here now,” Teravainen said on Saturday after camp, “and try to help this team to get into the right place.”

No one from the roster Teravainen last played on in 2015-16 remains in Chicago. This is an entirely different team, almost.

“A lot of trainers and equipment guys, those guys are the same,” he said. “It makes it a little bit easier, maybe to come here because I at least know some people here.”

Blackhawks fans fondly remember Teravainen as the young skilled forward that joined the team for their last Stanley Cup run in 2015.

His game has grown over the years. In his time in Caroline, Teravainen said he has started to play more of a two way game, focusing on the defensive side.

“I have played the last many years a lot of the penalty kill and a lot of defense,” he said. “I feel like I have the whole offensive game inside me hiding somewhere too. I feel like it’s exciting to come here and hopefully show a little bit of everything.”

Blackhawks fans will get reacquainted with Teravainen in the coming weeks when he takes the ice during the preseason. Number 86 was once the young rookie, it might take some time to get to know him as one of the team’s true veterans.

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