The St. Louis Blues seem to have hit a home run in drafting Jimmy Snuggerud with the 23rd pick of the 2022 NHL Draft. He busted on the scene at the end of this past season and was an instant x-factor.
With an off-season under his belt, can he become a superstar in 2025-26?
Lack of growing pains
From the moment he took his rookie lap, you could see that Snuggerud was going to be something special. He has not made an everlasting impression yet, but the skills are certainly there for him to grow into a top player for the Blues.
Another notable aspect is that Snuggerud showed no signs of growing pains during his short trial. He was creative with the puck, showed off his superior wristshot, and made himself look like a veteran out there with concise passes. Sure, there were some turnovers, but that happens to the best of them.
Alongside fellow rookie Dalibor Dvorksy, these two will be a big part of the Blues' future. Dvorksy had a very short tenure with the Blues, marking his future trajectory as still unknown. For Snuggerud, the stones are set for him to be a crucial member of this franchise for years to come.
Dare I say, we could see Snuggerud join the 40+ goal club sooner rather than later.
Early impact in big games
Who could say that their first handful of games at the NHL level was in the middle of a highly contested playoff hunt and then a first-round matchup with the Presidents’ Trophy winners? Snuggerud had to endure all of that just mere weeks following his final games at the University of Minnesota.
To end the regular season, he played in seven games. Snuggerud had a goal and three assists for four points to cap off the regular season. He also scored his first playoff goal of his career in game five of the first round against Winnipeg.
With time, Snuggerud can be a great player and a valuable asset for the Blues. He is another building block, alongside Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, and Dylan Holloway, to make this franchise a playoff contender for years to come.