About Last Season: Teuvo Teravainen Performance Review and Grade

Teuvo Teravainen: 2017-18 By The Numbers

• Age: 23
• NHL Seasons: 4
• Scoring: 23 goals - 41 assists - 64 points
• Ice Time: 16:53 all situations, 14:12 ES, 0:01 PP, 2:40 PK
• 5 on 5 Stats: 56.6% CF, 56.1% GF
• Contract Status: Completed first year of a two-year, $2.86 million AAV contract

Making the Grade

When scouring through the overall disappointment that was the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2017-2018 season, it can be difficult to find the bright spots. However, if you followed the team closely, one player who seemed to shine through the dullness was Teuvo Teravainen. The 23-year old from Finland took another step in the right direction, finishing second on the team in points behind fellow countryman (and frequent linemate) Sebastian Aho. His 64 points were the most he has ever accumulated in his young career, finishing 22 points higher than his previous season. He was also able to score 23 goals, good for third on the team, and also another career high.

He seemed to thrive on a line with Aho and Jordan Staal that allowed him to focus on his offensive contributions while Staal did the heavy defensive lifting at center. He had the luxury of having a high offensive zone start percentage but that’s how coaches are able to maximize offensive talent especially on a team so starved for it. Putting Teravainen and Aho together produced consistent scoring that was lacking almost everywhere else in the lineup, and that combination has continued at the World Championships where the two have totaled 28 points in just six games.

Teravainen is the type of player that the team can use to build around as it looks to halt its playoff drought at nine years. He is young, fast, skilled and most importantly (at least for now) cheap. His relatively low cap hit this upcoming season is the type of positive that teams must take advantage of to compete in today’s NHL. If he can build upon his success he has found here in Raleigh, an extension could definitely be on the horizon.

Exit Interview