The Carolina Hurricanes face quite a bit of uncertainty this offseason, with many of their core players set to become free agents.
Among those who could leave the Hurricanes is Teuvo Teravainen. The winger will be turning 30 years old in September and has been a fixture within the team's forward group for the last eight years.
After a disappointing 2022-23 season, Teravainen bounced back this year, posting 25 goals and 53 points in 76 games. He won't score more than 20-25 goals, but with very sound playmaking ability and a fairly well-rounded game, Teravainen has been a key part of the Hurricanes' success.
Still though, the Hurricanes' priority is likely to re-sign some of their other talent, and based on his age, Teravainen could be on his way out. So if Teravainen does leave Carolina, what would be some of the most likely landing spots?
Buffalo Sabres
With Buffalo's playoff drought now at 13 years and general manager Kevyn Adams likely on the hot seat, you have to imagine the team will get aggressive this offseason.
The Sabres also do have a good base of young talent already. Dylan Cozens, JJ Peterka, Zach Benson and Jack Quinn are only going to get better, while Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and Jeff Skinner will provide consistent offense as well. But the team hasn't been able to get over the hump quite yet, and offense has been part of that. The team ranked just 23rd in goals this season, and saw some of their top forwards underperform.
With Teuvo Teravainen, the Sabres may not be looking for anything long-term, but there's the possibility they could overpay for the Hurricanes winger on a short-term deal. The team's priority up front is likely a third-line center rather than a winger, but Teravainen could still help to create a more dynamic top-nine.
Chicago Blackhawks
Originally selected by the Blackhawks in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft, it could be fitting to see Teravainen return to the team with whom he started his NHL career — and won a Stanley Cup in 2015.
Chicago is still a ways away from really competing, but adding in free agency could help to accelerate their rebuild. The Blackhawks really don't have a ton of high-end pieces at the top of their forward group, centered mainly around Connor Bedard, Philipp Kurashev, and a returning Taylor Hall. Adding a piece or two would allow the team to slide other players down the lineup, into roles they're better suited for.
The Blackhawks have a ton of cap space, and even on a longer-term deal, Teravainen won't break the bank. He's maybe a little older than what the team could be looking for, but there's at least an argument that a return to Chicago makes sense.
Detroit Red Wings
While the Red Wings have gotten progressively closer to getting back to the playoffs, it hasn't come to fruition quite yet. Following eight straight years without a postseason appearance, we can expect Detroit to be active this offseason once again.
Now with Patrick Kane and David Perron set to become free agents as well, Detroit will have holes to fill within their top-six. Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond can provide consistent scoring, but there's a drop-off after that. While the Red Wings are likely set down the middle, they could bring in one or two wingers for help on a second line.
Steve Yzerman has been hesitant about giving out term on contracts, but Teravainen could add some solid secondary offense at a fairly reasonable price. The team has a healthy amount of cap space available, leaving them with flexibility in free agency too. They could ultimately end up going for a bigger target, but if not, Teravainen could be a good add.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks are still very much in the middle of their rebuild, but should be looking to add some established talent. Will Smith and possibly Macklin Celebrini will be making the jump to the NHL, and the team will need to surround them with veterans. The Sharks have room in their top-six to add a winger or two, and Teravainen could be a fit.
At the same time, the hesitancy with bringing in Teravainen would likely be his age. The winger will soon be 30 years old, and the team wouldn't want to lock themselves into a deal that could hurt their cap situation in the coming years.
At the same time, there's the possibility they could overpay for Teravainen on a one or two-year deal at a higher cap hit. It would give them a good short-term piece for their top-six, and also leave them with the possible opportunity to flip him for an asset at the trade deadline later.
A long-term deal being worked out for Teravainen in San Jose is somewhat unlikely, but he'd be a fit on a shorter contract.
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