One of the biggest storylines surrounding the St. Louis Blues this season is the number of young players on their roster. Currently, there are 11 players aged 25 or younger on the roster. Headlining this group of young players is forward Jimmy Snuggerud. He's been the most talked-about prospect since the Blues took him 23rd overall during the 2022 NHL draft. He's seen as a speedy forward with a dangerous shot.
We saw a flash of the type of player he can be during the Blues' 4-2 loss to the Sabres. At the 8:09 mark of the first period, slip the puck past Alex Lyon's pad to give the Blues a 2-1 advantage. It was one of the few highlights for the Blues. It also marked the first time Snuggerud has registered a point since he notched an assist against the Vegas Golden Knights on November 15th. With such a long pointless drought, has Snuggerud done enough to prove he belongs in the NHL?
Has Jimmy Snuggerud developed enough during his rookie campaign?
In 28 games this season, he has recorded six goals and six assists for 12 points. This is nowhere near the 50-point player we saw at the University of Minnesota last season. His advanced metrics do not paint a much better picture. According to Natural Stat Trick, he has a 45.45 CF%, a 46.62 xG%, and a 46.88 SCF%. These numbers indicate that he's not generating a lot of offensive chances and allowing opponents to get better scoring chances/
One of the biggest reasons for Snuggerud's struggles has been his inability to create high-danger scoring chances. According to NHL Edge, he has 14 shots from the high danger zone. This ranks below the 50th percentile and is three shots less than the NHL average. This also accounts for only 28% of his shots on net. While he's been decent at mid-range shots, if he's going to be an elite NHL player, he has to find a way to generate more chances in the high danger zone.
Part of the reason Snuggerud has not lived up to expectations is that he's still adjusting to the speed of the professional game. Every player will tell you that the most significant adjustment for young players is the pace of play in the NHL. This is hard enough on its own, but it's even harder for Snuggerud, whose skating has been seen as a weakness. It's hard to succeed in the NHL if they are unable to keep up with the other players.
If his struggles continue, it could be time to consider sending Snuggerud down to the AHL. Making the jump from college to the NHL is not easy, and few succeed. While some may see it as a demotion, it's a chance for Snuggerud to play with players at his level. He can develop in a less stressful environment and work out the problems he's been having. While not ideal, it could be the best thing for his career.