Old North Banter
Fansided

Carolina Hurricanes: Regrading the Teuvo Teravainen Trade

By Christian Candeloro

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Teuvo Teravainen #86 of the Carolina Hurricanes forechecks during a 2-0 Hurricanes win over the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on October 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Teuvo Teravainen #86 of the Carolina Hurricanes forechecks during a 2-0 Hurricanes win over the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on October 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next

Regrading the Hurricanes Return

DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 19: Teuvo Teravainen #86 of the Carolina Hurricanes plays the Colorado Avalanche in the third period at the Pepsi Center on December 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 19: Teuvo Teravainen #86 of the Carolina Hurricanes plays the Colorado Avalanche in the third period at the Pepsi Center on December 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

There’s no way around it: In retrospect, the Hurricanes unequivocally won this trade. Bickell’s contract was considered to be a burden when acquired but by the end of the year, Bickell became one of the most emotional stories in hockey.

Bickell was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and played in only 13 games for the Hurricanes in 2016-17. He retired at the end of the season due to his deteriorating health. He gave the team one of the top moments of the last decade, scoring a shootout goal in his final NHL game.

As much as Bickell was a leader and inspiration for the team, Teravainen was the real prize of the trade.

Following his elite production in the playoffs, Teravainen was expected to take the next step in his first full season with the Blackhawks. Instead, Teravainen turned in a disappointing 35 point season and finished with a negative +/-.

In his second season with the Hurricanes, Teravainen took the leap that everyone expected, putting up 64 points and emerging as one of the young core pieces that the Hurricanes could build around.

In January of 2019, the Hurricanes inked the Finnish forward to a 5-year, $27 million extension and were rewarded immediately. Teravainen was Hurricanes’ the leading goal-scorer in the 2019 postseason, helping to lead the team into the Eastern Conference Finals.

This season, Teravainen has continued his upward ascension, currently sitting at 16th in the NHL in points and leads the Hurricanes regulars in Corsi For percentage. He’s emerged as an elite option in the Hurricanes lineup.

New Grade: A

The Hurricanes leveraged their cap space to acquire a burgeoning young star forward that will be a part of the team’s core for years to come.

Home/Carolina Hurricanes