Carolina Hurricanes: From Start to Glorious Finnish

The Hurricanes have been blessed with two Finnish players with exceptional skill levels in Aho and Teravainen. But what makes them so good together?

In a pair that Hurricanes twitter has dubbed “Ahovainen”, Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen sit among the top of the tree for the Canes in terms of skill. Aho currently leads the team in goals. Teravainen and Aho are 3rd and 4th respectively in team scoring. But just why do these two make such great line-mates?

The trick is simple, they get along on and off the ice. Like the blossoming romance between Andrei Svechnikov, Warren Foegele and Dougie Hamilton, Aho and Teravainen are great friends off the ice. When Aho first came over from Finland, he lived with Teravainen, so they get along at a personal level, and because both are Finnish, there was never any communication issues. Teravainen used to translate for Aho.

They also will spark memories of Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin in that they know where the other one is going to be almost without looking. Teravainen and Aho almost don’t need to look up in order to know where the other one is gonna be. It makes passing the puck so much easier because you can look one way and know where you’re going to have a safe pass.

It’s also like playing a video game with these two. Teravainen is a great play-maker and is a sound two way player. Aho can snipe, he can create, he can dangle around players. Together, they become almost impossible to stop. It’s why a lot of people have been calling for Svechnikov to be put on that line to give you a play-maker, two way forward and sniper all on one line.

Aho led the team in points last year with 30 goals and 53 assists for 83 points. Teravainen had 76 points, and really the two Finns were way ahead of anyone else on the team. Svechnikov was a rookie, and the next closest scorer was Justin Williams. They were on a different level all year, and they dragged the Canes into the playoffs last season.

Teravainen was not originally a Carolina Hurricane. He came over from the Chicago Blackhawks in a trade that saw Chicago shift out the cap hit of Bryan Bickell. Teravainen has been a great player ever since he was acquired. He’s modestly improved year to year, as has Sebastian and with both still being relatively young, you can expect them both to continue to improve.

Aho and Teravainen work so well together for so many reasons. From the second they were together they seemed to have a connection, and it’s clear how much Aho and Teravainen get along. It’s not a shock either, we’ve seen many Finnish players get along in Carolina. However, we have never seen two as talented as Sebastian and Teuvo.

Question for Cardiac Cane readers: What do you think makes Sebastian Aho work so well with Teuvo Teravainen?