With only a few more weeks left until the official start of the 2026-27 season for the St. Louis Blues, there was a flurry of news spread out today. The new home for watching the Blues was announced as local fans will turn to Prime for their viewing needs, and Robert Thomas was also named the 25th captain in franchise history.
The Athletic also released its annual Top 150 players list and tiered them from cornerstone to supporting cast. The Blues had a few players on the list, with Thomas in the third of five tiers, followed by both Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway in the fourth tier. Colton Parayko was the fourth and final player on this list from the Blues, and he was in the bottom tier.
There was one name missing from this list, and it was evident that he was snubbed. Jimmy Snuggerud, who had a very good rookie campaign that resulted in a first-team all-rookie nomination, was left off it.
How could The Athletic have omitted a player with the ceiling of Snuggerud?
Young, but proven
Snuggerud has one year and a very little bit of NHL experience under his belt. But every game that he has played since joining the big leagues has shown that he is a proven player. This is the best 150 players in the world, and it is an elite list, but surely this is a conversation that he belongs in.
But getting a nomination as one of the best three rookie forwards in the NHL is not something to scoff at. Especially since the other two forwards on that list, Ivan Demidov and Beckett Sennecke, both made this list. Surely there was somewhere where they could have thrown in No. 21 on this big list, even if he was the last name on it.
This upcoming season is going to be truly be a true breakthrough season for Snuggerud, as the world is not yet ready or informed on his potential.
Element of surpise
The Blues have a diamond in the rough on their first line, and Snuggeurd is set to shine brightly next season. Over the next 84 games, he is going to man that top line alongside a captain and an alternate in Holloway and establish himself as a household name for the entire league.
This is a very good list of players, and if there was a chance to put Snuggerud as the fifth name from the Blues, it should have been done.
Can the 22-year-old shock the world in 2026-27 and make a name for himself.
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