Can a strong Olympic run get Teuvo Teravainen's season going?

One Chicago Blackhawks player whose season has not gone as expected this year is Teuvo Teravainen. The 31-year-old Finnish forward has struggled in his second season back with his drafted club. Teravainen has recorded just 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 50 games. This production is a far cry from his totals last season, when "Turbo" amassed 15 goals and 43 assists for 58 points in 82 games.

Teravainen is the lone Blackhawks player who will not be on the ice for the next three weeks, as he will be representing his native country, Finland, at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. This stretch can be a valuable opportunity for Terevainen to enjoy success on the ice and get his confidence back.

How a strong Olympic run can help Teuvo Teravainen

As was the case last season in the 2025 Four Nations Faceoff, Terevainen will be suiting up for Finland on the International stage. He has enjoyed success throughout his career playing for Finland on the big stage, most notably during the World Juniors. He tallied seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points in 13 games in the 2013 and 2014 tournaments with a gold medal win to show for his efforts.

Teravainen has also represented Finland in the World Championships multiple times, registering six goals and 19 assists for 25 points in 15 games all-time in that tournament. And not to mention, he was there for the most recent World Cup of Hockey in 2016.

Bottom line, Teravainen has always been a player Finland has counted on throughout his career, and more often than not has delivered. He is a guy they will need to show up if Finland wishes to go toe-to-toe with Canada, the USA, and Sweden for gold. Especially with the absence of captain Sasha Barkov, Teravainen will be a crucial piece of the puzzle.

Teravainen will get to play with a plethora of talented offensive players on this Finnish squad; including the likes of Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Roope Hintz, Anton Lundell, etc... A stronger supporting cast than he's used to in Chicago to say the least.

A successful run over these next three weeks could be pivotal for Teravainen. It has been clear that his game with Chicago has not been on the same level this year. Perhaps some strong play in the Olympics can be translated into momentum that he can carry over into the rest of the NHL season to get his year back on track. The Blackhawks could certainly use more from the Fin if they wish to close out the last 25 games on a high note.

Teravainen's long-term future with Chicago is a question mark, as he has only one year remaining on his current deal with the club after this season. If he wants to be a part of this emerging new core under general manager Kyle Davidson, his form will need to see improvement from this point forward, or he'll likely be on the move elsewhere.