Teuvo Teravainen issues statement that Blackhawks fans will love

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Joshua Deeds
July 20, 2024 (9:15 PM)

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The Chicago Blackhawks made a bold move during free agency, bringing former and now once again, Blackhawk Teuvo Teraveinen back to the organization.

He'd sign a 3-year, $5. 4 M AAV deal and would meet with Blackhawks media over Zoom.

During the call, he was wearing a Blackhawk hat, which of course he had stashed away from his first stint in Chicago.

"I found the old hat laying around in some corner," Teravainen said. "Figured to put it on."

Teraveinen, originally an 18th overall pick by the Blackhawks in the 2012 Draft would play three years here, winning a Stanley Cup before becoming a cap casualty and sent to the Carolina Hurricanes. Where he's spent the last 8 seasons in the NHL. Teraveinen was excited to return to Chicago.

"It's awesome to be back," Teravainen said. "I kind of knew they were a little bit interested, and also for myself, when I heard they might be interested, I was right away very interested. I had a few options, but I felt like it's the right path for me right now, so excited. Kind of easy because I know the city, I have good memories from there, so easy decision."

While in Chicago, he started out as a third-line winger and penalty killer but has developed into a goal-scoring forward, as he tallied 25 goals last season with the Hurricanes.

"I was a different player back then," Teravainen said. "The whole kind of game, taking a step by step, better every year. A long time in Carolina so I learned to play how they play over there, so it's been great years over there. I'm almost 30 right now so I should be a little bit older and a better player. Hopefully I can bring a little of everything, experience and all-around play."

But the idea of being able to play on the same line with Connor Bedard was enticing to Teraveine:

"Yeah, of course," Teravainen said. "I haven't seen him play much live but of course I've seen all the highlights. He seems like a pretty good player. Young for sure, but hopefully I can help him get better. But that would be, of course, cool to play with him."

The Locker room will look markedly different compared to his first stint, as the team he won a Stanley Cup with, no longer exists. Excluding Kyle Davidson, know GM of the Blackhawks.

"I don't even know if he remembers me or knows that that guy that picked him up is the same person that signed him now," Davidson said. "Teuvo was the one that I picked up and spent the most time with because he was younger and he was by far the youngest, and so made sure he was comfortable here in Chicago. 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 they let him go with the team after that.

"It's funny to kind of see that come full circle where I'm signing him to a new contract and bringing him in as a veteran player when I picked him up at the airport as the youngest player in the team at the time. ... Whether he knows it or not, we've got a little bit more history there than he may understand."

But unbeknownst to Davidson, Teraveinen remembers Davidson quite well and remembers the experience of arriving at O'Hare Airport.

"I do remember that," Teravainen said. "It's kind of a funny story right now, he's the GM and not the driver anymore. It was a long time ago, but I remember hanging out with him a little bit and he was driving me around and helping with the small things.

"I was a young player and I didn't really know anything about anything, I just came from Europe, so it was awesome to have some people help me out. He seemed like a good guy back then so it's not a big surprise where he is right now."

Teraveinen was brought into Chicago once again, to push the team into a competitive territory. That is his goal as he wants to win in Chicago. He wants to help the Blackhawks become perennial contenders once again:

"I have good memories from there," Teravainen said. "I don't know, I just felt it was a good path for me right now. I can join a young team, hopefully I can help them get back to the playoffs, get back to where the good teams are. I feel like that's a really nice, exciting chance for me to be a part of something like that.

"Of course winning is more fun than losing so I want to do it right away, but hopefully we can get there as soon as we can. Let's get to work in Chicago so hopefully we can get there."

Source: NBC Sports Chicago
Teuvo Teravainen hopes to guide Blackhawks back to contention: �Let's get to work'