Teuvo Teräväinen’s 2026-27 season should look a lot more like the version the Blackhawks have come to trust.
That’s the big picture after a 2025-26 campaign that didn’t match his usual production. Teräväinen has long been one of Chicago’s most dependable playmakers, the kind of veteran who helps steady a young offense, but last season brought an unusual dip. He finished with 14 goals and 35 points in 75 games, a clear step down from the standard he’s set over the years.
The strange part is that even in a down year, Teräväinen still found ways to matter. His 82-game point average sits at 55, and he posted 58 points in 82 games in 2024-25.
He’s also no stranger to stretches without scoring, but he’s typically steadier as a passer. Last season, though, the points dried up more than usual.
He went 15 games without a goal and managed five points in that span.
Even so, he was still a real factor on the power play. Teräväinen finished third on the Blackhawks in power-play points with 19 and tied Connor Bedard for second on the team in power-play goals with seven.
That contribution is part of why head coach Jeff Blashill kept pointing back to Teräväinen’s value, even when the five-on-five production wasn’t where anyone wanted it. On March 1, Blashill said, “I hear what Teuvo’s saying.
He's probably not feeling it, you know? And that happens.
It happens, like we've said to every player... One thing with Teuvo is he still contributes, even if he's not playing a major role five-on-five, because he's a really good penalty killer and he's a really good bumper on the power play.
And so those two things he's continued to do a good job at. Five-on-five, he's probably not feeling as well as he'd like to.
I think the biggest thing with him is just making sure he moves his feet when he gets the puck, and when he does that, he's a really smart player and can make a lot of good plays. So, he'll fight through it.
I think he's been better here in the last little bit, though.”
That “smart player” label keeps coming up around Teräväinen, and it’s no accident. It’s the trait teammates and coaches lean on when they talk about what makes him so effective.
Frank Nazar put it plainly: “He's one of the smartest players I've ever played with. He just knows where to go.
He's got unreal touch, like his toe drag was just disgusting for that goal. But I think all year and last year, just the plays... he reads off guys super well.
So he knows, like, if I'm building speed, or if I'm pushing to an area where to lay pucks, like, how to spin... like the spin on the puck is crazy. He knows it all, and I don't know if he knows it or it just happens, but I think he's just extremely smart, and I don't know, just been able to mesh well.”
There was also a different kind of grind attached to Teräväinen’s season. Unlike some of his teammates, he didn’t get a long break because he played for Team Finland at the Olympics and came away with a bronze medal. That extra load raised the question of whether he was carrying fatigue through the season.
When asked in March whether he was feeling the effects of having no real break, Teräväinen answered with his usual calm tone: “Yeah, I don't know. Tough to say.
But yeah, it's been a long year for sure, and just mentally too, because now we're having to win a lot of games. So it's just tough, but it's just, try to battle, and (get the next one).”
That kind of response fits the player. He keeps going, keeps contributing, and rarely makes a scene about what’s going on around him.
Looking ahead, the setup for a rebound is there. Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi were his most consistent linemates last season, and even when Teräväinen slid into a bottom-six role at times, he still showed he can be useful in the top six and on special teams.
He also added to his medal collection this summer by winning gold with Finland at the World Championships. Scott Powers of The Athletic reported that Teräväinen suffered a broken finger and was limited to one game in the tournament.
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For a rebuild still looking to turn promise into results, that kind of early buzz matters because it reflects both ceiling and opportunity. FanDuel Sportsbook has Frondell and Kantserov among the favorites as well, which only adds to the intrigue around how quickly they can translate prospect hype into NHL impact once the season arrives. [Read more 🡒]