The St. Louis Blues faithful got their first look at top prospects Dalibor Dvorsky and Jimmy Snuggerud. Dvorsky has had an excellent year in the AHL at 19 years old. In 57 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds, Dvorsky has tallied 20 goals and 43 points as a rookie, which earned him a call-up with Buchnevich sidelined with an illness. Snuggerud, on the other hand, was showcasing his talents with the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the NCAA and had a heck of a season. The 20-year-old Minnesota native had 24 goals and 51 points in 40 games for the Gophers, setting career highs in both goals and points, which earned him shouts for the Hobey Baker Award. Now that the Gophers' season has ended, it did not take long for the Blues to sign him to an entry-level contract and immediately call him up with the NHL squad. While it may have only been for a game or two so far, both prospects showcased their potential, which the fans have been excited to see with how well both players have been playing with their respective teams coming into being called up to the NHL.
Dvorsky debuted in the Blues 4-1 win against the Nashville Predators on March 23rd. He centred the third line between Mathieu Joseph and Alexandre Texier, playing just over 10 minutes and finishing the game with no points(even though the announcers thought Dvorsky got an assist). One thing you can say about Dvorsky is that he did not look out of place in his NHL debut. Though he did not get credit on the scoresheet on Texier's power-play goal, he picked up the puck on the right side of the offensive zone and made a heads-up play to Robert Thomas, who found Jake Neighbours, who looked to have scored but ended up being tipped by Texier. He did not have the first-game jitters and looked calm every time he touched the puck. It was a solid performance by Dvorsky, and even though he was sent back down to Springfield, it may not be the last we see of him this season now that Dylan Holloway suffered an injury against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It all depends on what the Blues management decides to do, but I doubt anyone will be disappointed to see Dvorsky again this season.
Snuggerud made his NHL debut in the 2-1 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings on April 1st. He started the game on a line with Oskar Sundqvist and Zach Bolduc, but near the end, Snuggerud started seeing minutes in the top 6 when the Blues were trying to get a late equalizer. Snuggerud finished the game with two shots on target in 10:43 of ice time. Like Dvorsky, Snuggerud did not look out of place in his debut. Snuggerud's decision-making stood out. Whenever he got the puck, he was quick to make decisions, whether it was making the right pass or getting a shot on net. Though he did not get a point on his debut, he did not have to wait long to get his first NHL point. In his second game against the Penguins, Snuggerud carried the puck in on the right-hand side, made a heads-up play, and found Bolduc streaking in and slotted in the chance. Now, with Holloway injured and likely to miss the next couple of games, Snuggerud looks to be getting a chance to play on the top line with Thomas and Buchnevich.
Dalibor Dvorsky and Jimmy Snuggerud left strong impressions in their NHL debuts for Blues fans. Showing their poise, skill, and the potential to be key pieces of the Blues' future. Dvorsky's stint may have been brief, but the excitement surrounding his play leaves something to look forward to. With injuries opening up opportunities, do not be surprised if we see more of them down the stretch and into the playoffs.