Blackhawks consider adding Teravainen down stretch

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks will discuss adding 19-year-old forward Teuvo Teravainen, whose season has ended in Finland, coach Joel Quenneville said Sunday.

Teravainen's team in the Finnish Liiga, Jokerit, was eliminated from the playoffs Sunday. That means the 2012 first-round pick could join the Blackhawks soon, depending on internal conversations Quenneville said would take place following Chicago's game Sunday at United Center against the Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. ET; TSN2, NBCSN).

Teravainen, the 18th pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, participated in Chicago's training camp and left an impression on Quenneville prior to heading back to Finland. He continued to impress by helping Finland win the gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.

"That's something we'll talk about," Quenneville said of Teravainen's arrival. "We saw what he's capable of in camp, and I guess there was some real good progression to his season, as well, so you know, it could happen at some point."

Teravainen had two main objectives playing for Jokerit. The first was to get comfortable playing center, particularly on the defensive end, and the second was to add strength. Quenneville said the reports on his development are encouraging.

Teravainen is listed on the Blackhawks' website as 5-foot-11, 169 pounds. According to Eliteprospects.com, his weight is up to 176 pounds.

"I think he got stronger and better defensively," Quenneville said. "I watched some of those World [Junior] Championship games, where he really looked like he was one of the top guys. He seemed to have the puck a lot, and I think his recognition offensively is really high-end. I think improving in his strength probably is another area that happened over the course of the year."

If Teravainen does come to Chicago, he'll likely get a look in the middle of the second line. That would put him next to playmaking right wing Patrick Kane, to whom he's often compared. It's no secret the Blackhawks are looking to fill a void at that spot with a player whose skillset matches that of Kane, Patrick Sharp or Brandon Saad.

Heading into the game against the Red Wings, Chicago had 15 left in the regular season.

Could Teravainen solidify a role down the stretch and into the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the defending champions?

"I think it's happened before," Quenneville said.