Teravainen’s skills catch Hawks’ attention
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Teuvo Teravainen has been compared to Patrick Kane in a lot of ways.
Both are former No. 1 draft picks who are on the small side. Kane checks in at 5-feet-11, 181 pounds while Taravainen is 5-11, 169.
Then there is the formidable skill. Both have it, although Teravainen might have a ways to go to catch Kane if you’ve seen Kane’s stick-handling commercial for Bauer in which he stick handles through a maze of pucks and doesn’t even touch one with his skates.
Teravainen (pronounced TAY-voh tair-uh-VIGH-nehn) is ticketed for another season in Finland to play for Jokerit, but he can be expected to be in a Hawks uniform in 2014-15.
“Every time I see him I try to talk to him a little bit, ask him how his day went, but I don’t get much back because his English isn’t that great,” Kane said Friday. “From what I hear there’s a lot of similarities in our games. I know he plays a different position — he’s playing center — but everything I hear are good things.
“He’s a guy you can look forward to playing with in the future and being part of our team. You can tell right now he’s probably not matured as much as he can, but he’s got a lot of skill and a lot of talent.”
Teravainen’s skill and talent were on display Friday at Notre Dame in the first scrimmages of training camp and coach Joel Quenneville noticed the 19-year-old Finn.
“I liked him,” Quenneville said. “He did a lot of nice things. He wants the puck in the middle of the ice, and you notice him. Playing with him you’ve probably got to be sharp and ready because the puck is going to be on your stick quicker than you think. You like his awareness, and his play recognition is high end. The quickness with his hands is special.”
Teravainen knows he’s not ready for the NHL right now.
“Of course I’m going back to Finland, but I think I can play some (preseason) game,” Teravainen said. “Just play big minutes in Finland, get stronger. I think maybe next year I’m ready.”
The safe side:Jonathan Toews didn#146;t participate in either scrimmage on Friday but did practice. The Hawks played it safe with the captain, who is suffering from a lower body injury.#147;As a precaution we kept him off the ice for the game,#148; Joel Quenneville said. #147;It#146;s not serious, but we decided to give him some time off and we#146;ll see how it is (Saturday). It#146;s not bad, but we said, #145;Hey, let#146;s be smart.#146;#148;The Hawks will hold two more scrimmages Saturday and Sunday at Notre Dame before returning to Chicago. The scrimmages are sold out.#147;We always like playing in front of a crowd, especially with what we#146;re used to in the United Center with 20,000 plus at every game,#148; Patrick Kane said.First cuts coming:Joel Quenneville said the Hawks likely would make the first roster cuts of training camp before Tuesday#146;s preseason opener against Detroit.Quenneville still is unsure whether the Hawks will keep 21, 22 or 23 players when the season starts.#147;We haven#146;t had that discussion yet,#148; Quenneville said. #147;A lot of that, I#146;m sure, is going to be determined by salary cap numbers.#148;