Blackhawks Sign Teuvo Teräväinen
On Thursday afternoon, the Blackhawks announced that the organization has agreed on a three-year, entry level contract with 2012 first round draft pick Teuvo Teräväinen.
UPDATE: According to CapGeek.com, the deal is worth $2,775,000 over three years ($925k cap hit).
Teräväinen, who will turn 19 on Sept. 11, was dominant at the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp after posting 11 points in six games at last year’s World Junior Championships. The Hockey News posted a nice feature on him (with video) last week.
Mark Kelley, Chicago’s director of amateur scouting, told NHL.com that fans at the United Center won’t see Teräväinen in a Hawks’ sweater… at least to start this season.
“The real plan is for him to play another year in Europe,” Kelley said. “He’ll get ice time obviously with the under-20 team. He might get some looks with the national team. With Teuvo, we have the luxury of being patient with him. It’s let him mature physically. For us, the excitement is that he’s just an elite talent. He’ll get there.”
Good news. It’s always nice to get the top prospect locked up. I’m not up to speed on much of the new CBA – does anyone know if ELCs work the same way they did in the old CBA – specifically when does the 3-year ELC timer start ticking?
TT has played several games for Jokerit in the European Championship tourney going on right now. I believe he played 1C in the first two games and Jokerit was shut out both games. The third game was played today and it was reported he was playing 2C and had 2 assists, both on the PP. It will be interesting to keep track of him this season in anticipation that he will probably play in N.A in 2014/15.
TT- will be a PP mainstay/QB for years…
Watched Highlites of TT’s game yesterday… His best play/pass was 5 on 5 – (Hoss/Kane) type of pass/set-up… Goalie made incredible/lucky save to stop the shot and take away TT’s 3rd assist.
My take was the guy can skate too… the only question is??? Can he dodge the cheapshots/checks like Kane who has the incredible knack for doing? If TT can dodge hits like Kane- I see no reason He can’t succeed on Hawks – Right now! If there is any question that he can’t dodge the rough stuff- we will have to wait till next year… But I can’t wait- Cuz I want this guy on Ice w/ 81/88/19/10/29 sooner than later!
@wall – I’ve read comments from Finns who have watched him play a lot in sm-liiga and tournaments and one of the things that has been mentioned is his ability to avoid square-on hits. He’s shifty enough that his small stature shouldn’t be a problem in terms of getting crushed/injured.
Another comment that I’ve read and something that I’ve also observed in the limitted viewings of him that I have had is that he skates with his head up. I’ve seen his skating style compared with RNH and that allows him to have better vision of everything around him to make plays – but it also allows him to see those hits coming giving him more time to avoid the snot-knocker hits.
Its great news, and a smart move by Bowman, as it gives us a strong understanding where this organization sees him…in Europe this season, and then likely in Rockford next year, with a shot of making the Hawks out of TC…It locks in his salary for the 3rd year as well. By all accounts he has elite level offensive talent…he skates well, has tremedous vision and skates very well.
As ER and Wall said, the key for TT will be avoiding all the cheap stuff like Kane has, without going invisible…just a tremendous talent.
When I saw him in lakeplacid (summer of ’12 & a few wks ago) he does skate with his head up like that. He has a very fast first step too (especially with some space).
TT- scores 2 goals today’s ET game (only 2 goals in game)… lazer one timer while skating backwards nonetheless!!!
And a Kane like skating effort- dodged big hit on his butt… got up and went to the net to pickup the loose puck!
Leading his team in scoring- in Tourney- me thinks
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