Teravainen, the captain of Finland's gold medal-winning team at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, was a first-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks (No. 18) at the 2012 NHL Draft and made his debut for them as a 19-year-old March 25, 2014.

One year later, Teravainen scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 18 playoff games to help the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup for the third time in six seasons.

After Teravainen had 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists) in 2015-16, his first full NHL season, he was traded, with forward Bryan Bickell, to the Carolina Hurricanes for two draft picks (second round, 2016 and third round, 2017) on June 15, 2016. He had 76 points (21 goals, 55 assists) in 2018-19 and helped Carolina reach the Eastern Conference Final with 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 15 playoff games.

Teravainen signed a three-year, $16.2 million contract to return to Chicago on July 1, 2024. It was a full-circle moment, and Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson, a coordinator in their hockey operations department when Teravainen was drafted. He was named to Finland's roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off and helped Team Finland win bronze at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.