Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Coach Q has ‘really liked’ Teravainen’s play of late

Minnesota Wild v Chicago Blackhawks

Minnesota Wild v Chicago Blackhawks

NHLI via Getty Images

Joel Quenneville is happy with how Teuvo Teravainen is progressing.

“I really liked him the last two games,” the Blackhawks’ coach said of the highly touted prospect, per CSN Chicago. “Even in practice, you can see his poise with the puck, his play recognition. But I see definitely an improvement in his game. He has the puck a little bit more, too. That complements his strengths and his skill set. I think he’s had real good progress.”

That’s good news for the Blackhawks, even with a roster that already has plenty going for it. After all, no team can afford to stand still in the NHL; young players need to constantly step in and contribute.

On that note, it’ll be interesting to see where Teravainen’s game is at come playoff time. Remember that the Kings were bolstered by youngsters Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson on the way to winning the 2014 Stanley Cup, and both those players started last season in the AHL.

That’s getting ahead of things though. For now, Teravainen still has to prove he belongs at the game’s highest level. The 20-year-old hasn’t even scored his first NHL point yet.

“He’s getting more confident with the puck,” forward Bryan Bickell said. “He’s holding it more and has more time than he thought he did before. [Before,] he got it and he wanted to get rid of it. For him, he’s a puck kind of guy. When the puck is on his stick, there are going to be plays made. He has that talent and poise with the puck to make things out of nothing.”