When the Blackhawks and general manager Kyle Davidson came calling with interest in a free agent deal, winger Teuvo Teravainen was immediately enthused about returning to Chicago. Teuvo Teravainen (left) with Carolina and former linemate Sebastian Aho. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA3NzEwMDg0MzE3MzI0NDU3/usatsi_22331673_168401008_lowres.jpg] Teuvo Teravainen (left) with Carolina and former linemate Sebastian Aho. The Blackhawks had drafted Teravainen in the first round, 18th overall, in 2012. He began his NHL career with them, starting with a handful of games at at age 19 in 2014. Winning a Stanley Cup in 2015 in Chicago as a 20-year-old is Teravainen's top hockey memory, despite playing the past eight seasons on a talented Carolina Hurricanes team. Apparently, it didn't take much beyond the salary and terms to sway Teravainen, now 29, into signing a three-year, $16.2 million contract with the Blackhawks on July 1. The forward from Helsinki, Finland called it an "easy decision" and "good for my path," especially since he was already familiar with the Windy City and had "good memories from there." See following video. Teuvo Teravainen said signing a UFA contract with the Blackhawks was an easy decision. FINNISH FORWARD'S GAME HAS GROWN Teravainen has grown professionally since the Blackhawks sent him with Bryan Bickell to the Hurricanes for draft picks in a clunky, salary-cap-forced trade in June 2016. He's gained experience as a top-6 forward on talented teams — skating with the likes of fellow Finn and star Sebastian Aho — on Hurricanes squads that won their division three times, but never advanced past the Eastern Conference Final. Teuvo Teravainen at the 2012 NHL draft as former Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville looks on [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA3NzEwMjMyNDkzNjk2MTY5/usatsi_6360100_168401008_lowres.jpg] Teuvo Teravainen at the 2012 NHL draft as former Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville looks on Carolina has played a fast, skilled style in winning 50-plus games each of the past three seasons. Teravainen has helped drive that with 138 goals and 415 points in 555 regular-season contests with the Hurricanes. Now he looks forward to asserting his skills back in Chicago, quite possibly on a line with center and 2024 Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard. "The way Carolina plays, its fast everywhere with pressure (to) make the other team make mistakes," Teravainen said. "That's kind of the way I've been playing. Of course I'll try to being my style of game, a little speed, a little bit of passing and try to see the ice a little bit and find the open guys." On the Blackhawks, that's likely to include Bedard and his deceptive, accurate shot. "I haven't seen him play much live, but of course I've seen all the highlights," Teravainen said. "He seems like a pretty good player, young for sure, but hopefully I can help him a little bit get better. It would be, of course, cool to play with him." See following video. Teuvo Teravainen looks forward to likely playing with Connor Bedard on the Blackhawks next season. Being traded to the Hurricanes in 2016 stung Teravainen for a fews days before he got on with things in Carolina and prospered. Now it's back to Chicago. "I'm a little bit older and a better player," Teravainen said. "Hopefully I can bring a little of everything next year and all-around play. "I can join a young team and hopefully help them get back in the playoffs and where the good teams are," he added. "I feel like that's an exciting chance for me to be part of something like that." And yes, Teravainen does remember a young front office "assistant-something" Kyle Davidson picking him up at O'Hare International Airport when he first arrived in Chicago as a teenager after being drafted and completing a final season in Finland. "It's kind of a funny story right now," Teravainen said. "He's the GM and not the driver any more."
