Jan. 04--Patrick Kane knows all about the expectations that can be heaped upon a promising young player.
At 18, Kane stepped onto the ice for the Hawks just months after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2007 NHL draft and had the weight of a struggling franchise on his back.
"When I was coming up, I was almost too dumb, too stupid to even know what was going on," Kane said Saturday. "Sometimes you just go out there and play -- that can be the best recipe for success."
That appears to be the tack Teuvo Teravainen will take when the Hawks' top pick (18th overall) in the 2012 draft enters the lineup Sunday against the Stars at the United Center. Teravainen will get a chance to display the skills that had many fans breathless after a brief appearance last season because of an injury to Kris Versteeg that will keep the forward out about four weeks.
"I know there are some expectations and I'm a young player, so I just don't really try to care about that too much," Teravainen said. "I just try to live day by day and try to work hard, and things are going to happen."
Unlike when Kane and Jonathan Toews debuted for the Hawks during the '07-08 season, the Hawks are among the NHL's elite teams, so Teravainen can be eased into the lineup. During Saturday's practice, the 20-year-old Finn centered the fourth line with wingers Joakim Nordstrom and Ben Smith.
"(Teravainen) has high-end potential, and expectations internally are at the right area where, 'Hey, let's let him go and see how he matures and progresses,' " coach Joel Quenneville said. "There's not the buildup or the hype of a Toews or Kane, but he's a young kid, let him play and hopefully he keeps getting better every game and every year. It will be good for the organization if that's the case."
The Hawks have taken their time with Teravainen, who has been penciled in as their No. 2 center of the future. Instead of throwing him into that mix this season, they sent him to Rockford for more seasoning.
After a slow start while getting a feel for the North American and AHL styles and the size of the rinks, Teravainen put up three goals and seven assists in his last 13 games to boost his numbers to six goals and 17 assists in 33 games for the season.
"I think I've improved just a little bit of everything ... just create some offense and just American-style hockey," Teravainen said. "I've just been learning every day. I'll just try to play my best wherever I go and just play simple, smart hockey."
There is no question that Teravainen has the offensive skills to play in the NHL, but the team has been trying to add bulk to his 5-foot-11, 178-pound frame and develop the defensive game needed to play in the NHL.
"We'll see how he progressed in that area," Quenneville said. "He always has an awareness for being on the defensive side of the puck. We want to encourage him to pressure the puck, be around it and you should have it more if you're doing that. It complements his style."
Kane raved about Teravainen's overall skill after Saturday's practice.
"It's top-notch -- it's off the charts," Kane said. "Very skilled, great hands and good shot. He sees the game really well and has the ability to make passes well. He's going to be good for sure."
Teravainen will likely get a long look while Versteeg recovers from the left hand injury he suffered during the Hawks' 3-2 loss to the Capitals on Sunday when he was hit by a shot off the stick of Eric Fehr. Quenneville said it was doubtful that Versteeg would undergo surgery but that he would be sidelined "about a month."
ckuc@tribpub.com
Twitter @ChrisKuc
