Latest news with #Snuggerud
New York Times
23-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Has Jimmy Snuggerud exceeded Blues' expectations? Even Dad didn't know he'd fit this well
ST. LOUIS — Jimmy Snuggerud was skating up the ice and closing the distance between him and the goaltender. The puck hit the back of the net, and the goalie was livid. It was during a recent St. Louis Blues practice, and the goalie, Jordan Binnington, was steaming. As the 20-year-old rookie winger who joined the Blues from the University of Minnesota earlier this month relayed to his father, Dave Snuggerud, Binnington summoned him for another shot. Advertisement 'It sounds like Binnington is super competitive,' Dave Snuggerud said. 'He goes, 'Snuggerud, get back out here! You're doing this again.' Well, of course, Jimmy doesn't score on him, and Binnington tells him, 'I've got you figured out now.' 'That culture Jimmy's in right now is humbling. It's really cool to see because that's what 'team' is all about.' Dave is more than a proud dad. In 1987, he was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres and played 265 games in the NHL with the Sabres, San Jose Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers. He had 30 goals and 84 points before wrapping up with the Flyers in 1993. But while Dad had a pro career and a personal connection to the Blues' first-round pick in 2022, he was just like a fan when wondering if his son could step into a team trying to get into the playoffs and contribute in the postseason. 'Would Jimmy be ready?' Dave said. 'That would all up be up to the coaches and what they see. With (Blues coach Jim Montgomery), he's been given the opportunity. If we put him in front of (former Flyers coach John) Tortorella, I don't know if this would be the same result. So I didn't know if Jimmy was ready or not because it all depended on the coaching style.' The result for Snuggerud has been two goals and five points in nine games with the Blues, including his first Stanley Cup playoff goal in Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. It came against goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who might win the league MVP this season, and it was the Blues' only goal in a 2-1 loss to the Jets, who lead the best-of-seven series 2-0 going into Game 3 Thursday. 'Snuggerud, ever since he got here, since his first practice, his first game, he just gets better and better,' Montgomery said. 'He's looked like he belongs in the league, and he's never done anything to show that he doesn't belong in the league.' This kid. #stlblues — St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 22, 2025 In Game 1 on Saturday, with Winnipeg hosting its 'Whiteout' at Canada Life Centre, Snuggerud played on the Blues' second line with Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou. He wasn't overwhelmed by the crowd or the top-six assignment, finishing with 16:31 of ice time, one shot on goal, a takeaway and a blocked shot. Advertisement 'The whiteout is something in the NHL that's kind of a staple,' Snuggerud said. 'I mean, from the time we stepped on for warmups, the crowd was there. The national championship is the closest thing to it (in college), but I wouldn't say it's close. It's something I've never seen before. The first 10-minute push, it's insane.' Dave and Ann Snuggerud made the seven-hour drive from Minnesota to Winnipeg to watch in person. 'I don't know how Jimmy had the ability to block that out, which I would think is impossible, but for him, it was just about winning or losing that game,' Dave said. 'That's all he was talking about.' Dad said his son has always had a calm confidence about himself. 'It's not arrogance,' he said. 'It's the opposite — humbleness and humility — where he does such a good job of living in the present moment. I know he's very appreciative, but yet he's not satisfied. It's like, 'I want to keep pushing.' He's taken on that type of attitude at an exceptionally young age, and it's a pretty cool trait to have.' In Game 2 on Monday, Snuggerud was switched to the Blues' top line with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich because Montgomery said he was looking for more offense. He played 20:01, and in addition to his goal, he directed seven shots at the net, tying Zack Bolduc for the most attempts in the game. Snuggerud was involved in Winnipeg's first goal. He was attempting to backcheck on a drive by the Jets' Mark Scheifele when the puck went off his skate and into the net. 'It's an unfortunate bounce, but it happens,' he said. Snuggerud shook that off, however, and tied the score 1-1 on the power play with two seconds left in the first period. 'I kind of realized the clock and tried to get it off as quick as possible,' he said. JIMMY SNUGGERUD'S FIRST CAREER #STANLEYCUP PLAYOFF GOAL — St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 22, 2025 A month ago, some fans wondered if it made sense to shoehorn Snuggerud into a lineup that was rolling, and in Game 2, he was the only one who provided any offense. Among all forwards, Snuggerud has logged the third-most ice time in all situations (36:32) and the fourth-most at five-on-five (27:42) so far in the series. In all situations, he's been on the ice for two goals for and two goals against, and the scoring chances are 18-11 in the Blues' favor when he's skating. Advertisement 'He's coming out of college hockey, and he's definitely not out of place,' Schenn said. 'He's skilled, smart, a pretty mature game for only playing (nine) games. You have to learn when you come into this league, there's a lot of adjustments from playing 30-40 games (in college) to 82 games plus playoffs. He asks a lot of questions, he wants to learn, and that's great when you have a young guy who wants to ask everyone around the room different questions, whatever's on his mind.' Growing up, Dave never had to force his opinion on his son. 'He always asked, 'What do you think?' and what's even more impressive is that he listens,' Dave said. 'I remember saying one time, 'You're on the power play and you're on the goal line; it's OK to try to go short-side on the goalie.' Sure enough, next game, he goes short-side, and I'm like, 'I didn't think you really listened to me.' But you'd tell him that, he'd process it, and then he'd go out and do it.' Late in the Blues' regular season, Snuggerud called home, too, and asked: 'What do you think?' 'My response was, 'Be great defensively because your skills are good enough offensively,'' Dave said. 'That's what eventually got me in a full-time position in the league, was being great defensively. He has great ability with his quick stick to be good defensively to take pucks away. 'But what also goes through my mind is, 'Oh my gosh, top six, you've got to put points up.' This team has so much history, you're starry-eyed and you're feeling good about yourself, but you have to produce. He gets it; you have to go out there and be good.' Snuggerud has produced, and when he does, his teammates are quick to credit him. Like April 5, when he set up Buchnevich with a backhanded pass in front of the net for a goal that gave the Blues a 3-0 lead in a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Advertisement After scoring, Buchnevich pointed straight at Snuggerud. 'And Neighbours did it, too, when he gave the puck to him for a goal,' Dave said. 'The look in Neighbours' eyes at Jim, all that tells me is like, 'He's in an environment where these guys care about each other.' He said to me, 'It's all over the locker room, Dad. These guys are rooting for each other.'' Snuggerud couldn't have scripted a better start to his career. 'You always try to envision good things in your mind,' he said. 'It's something I've dreamt about for a while, being here and doing this. Being able to possibly clinch a playoff spot and now playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs, it's kind of a moment that you have to step back to take in. These are important games for the franchise itself and the guys in this locker room. It's flying by, and I'm just trying to enjoy every single moment.' 'He's brought a great element to our group,' Schenn said, 'and we're happy he's a Blue.'
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Connor nets winner as Jets beat Blues 2-1, lead series 2-0
WINNIPEG — Mark Scheifele had a goal and assist and Kyle Connor scored his second consecutive game-winner in the third period to propel the Winnipeg Jets to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Monday and a two-game lead in their opening-round playoff series. It was the first time in three seasons the Jets have started with a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference best-of-seven contest. The past two years, Winnipeg won the first game and then lost the next four to be eliminated. St. Louis hosts Game 3 on Thursday. Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves in front of a full house of loud, white-clad fans at Canada Life Centre. Rookie Jimmy Snuggerud scored his first playoff goal and Jordan Binnington stopped 20 shots for eighth-seeded St. Louis. The Blues continued their hitting ways from the first game's 5-3 loss and the Jets didn't back down. Within the first minute of Monday's tilt, St. Louis skaters delivered five hits. Winnipeg responded with a pair of their own. Six-foot-seven Jets defenceman Logan Stanley later crushed Jordan Kyrou into the boards. The forward carefully went to the bench with about seven minutes remaining in the period. Blues captain Brayden Schenn, who had seven hits in the first period of Game 1, skated across the ice and flew into Jets captain Adam Lowry. He finished with four hits in the period. Scheifele scored on a great effort to get around a St. Louis defender and then fired a backhand from the slot. The puck bounced off Snuggerud into the net with 3:28 left. Winnipeg didn't capitalize on two power plays, but the Blues cashed in on their first one. Snuggerud made up for the earlier bad bounce by sending the puck high over Hellebuyck's blocker side on the man advantage with two seconds remaining in the frame to make it 1-1. Blues head coach Jim Montgomery had flipped Snuggerud and left-winger Jake Neighbours for the game, moving the former University of Minnesota star from the second line to the top one with centre Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich. He said the motive was producing more offence. Both teams tallied 16 hits each in the first period, and the Blues outshot the Jets 10-8. St. Louis came up empty on two power plays in the second period and both teams fired seven shots at the goalies. Connor made it 2-1 at 1:43 of the third period after getting a feed out front by Cole Perfetti at the side of the net. The Blues got their fourth straight power play six minutes later, but Winnipeg's defenders killed it. SWITCHING SETTINGS As the series moves to St. Louis, the Blues will try to capitalize on their 24-14-3 regular-season home record, including 12 consecutive victories. The Jets went 3-1 against the Blues in their four-game regular-season series, winning two matches in Missouri. Winnipeg, which had a 30-7-4 regular-season record at home, earned home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs after capturing the Presidents' Trophy for the NHL's best regular-season record. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21, 2025. Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
New York Times
02-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Jimmy Snuggerud's NHL debut: A shift-by-shift look from the OT win
ST. LOUIS — Not only was Jimmy Snuggerud playing his first NHL game Tuesday night with the St. Louis Blues, it was the first time he had ever been to Enterprise Center. The handful of times he'd been to town for a prospect camp, the practices have been held at Centene Community Ice Center. 'Yeah, I was trying to find the film room a couple of times,' Snuggerud said. Advertisement Wow, did he get a good first impression. The Blues were within a minute of watching their nine-game winning streak come to an end against the Detroit Red Wings. But with 29 seconds left in regulation, Jordan Kyrou tied the score, 1-1, and then Cam Fowler won the thriller in overtime 2-1. The sellout crowd of 18,096 at Enterprise Center celebrated the Blues' 10th straight win, which put them in the No. 1 wild card in the Western Conference with 89 points. 'The rink was so energetic,' Snuggerud said. 'When we scored that game-tying goal, it was so loud in here and then the overtime winner was twice as loud. It's really fun to be here and see that. 'Everything about the game — the comeback at the end — it was an awesome game. We snuck one out there at there at the end, and it was fun to be a part of.' Likewise, the Blues got a good impression of Snuggerud. The 20-year-old right winger logged 10:43 of ice time in his debut and had just two shots on goal, but he made several subtle plays all over the ice that impressed Blues coach Jim Montgomery and his new teammates. 'I thought he was really good,' Montgomery said. 'I thought he made smart plays. I didn't think he overcomplicated the game and he made plays on first-touch. That's a real good sign of a hockey player with really good hockey sense. I thought he acquitted himself well in his first game in the NHL and I was very confident putting him over the boards.' A moment he'll never forget! Jimmy Snuggerud is making his NHL debut with the @StLouisBlues! 🎶 — NHL (@NHL) April 1, 2025 Just five days ago, Snuggerud was playing with the University of Minnesota in an NCAA regional game. But after falling 5-4 in overtime to the University of Massachusetts, he joined the Blues for his first practice Tuesday and was in uniform a day later. 'I think he did a really nice job,' Fowler said. 'Coming in at this point in the season, fresh out of college, that's not an easy thing for anybody to do. But he stepped in, and you could see his poise with the puck and how strong he was in the corners. He'll only get more comfortable, and I think you'll see a lot more out of him.' Snuggerud eventually found the Blues' film room. While The Athletic didn't have access to that, we did break down each of his 15 shifts Tuesday, and got some feedback from him on a few of the sequences. 1st shift: (18:40-18:27) The crowd cheered as Snuggerud took the ice for his first shift. 'I heard something, but I didn't know it was before,' he said. 'It was cool.' It was an offense-zone draw, and after the Red Wings cleared the zone, there was a whistle. So Snuggerud's first time over the boards lasted all of 13 seconds. 2nd shift: (15:49-14:55) His next time out, the Blues were on the power play. They have him playing in the 'bumper' position, which is in the middle of the ice in the slot. You'll see as the puck is rotated around the perimeter, Snuggerud moves side to side, trying to be an option for a quick pass and shot. 3rd shift: (14:16-13:35) Snuggerud gets knocked over by former Blues player Vladimir Tarasenko on the boards, but he gets back on his skates and helps break up a play in front of the Blues' net. 'I kind of got buried by Tarasenko in the first on the boards,' Snuggerud said. 'I was like, 'All right, I've got to get into it.'' 4th shift: (10:04-9:37) Snuggerud is going to be a shooter in the NHL, and on his fourth shift of the game, he attempted his first shot in the league. He sets himself upby gathering a loose puck in the neutral zone, pushing it ahead to Oskar Sundqvist and then skating into Sundqvist's return pass before taking aim on goalie Cam Talbot. 'You don't get as many chances as I did in college, but it was nice to get a shot off and it was a good save,' Snuggerud said. 5th shift: (8:49-8:05) Snuggerud showed some speed, skating the puck through the neutral zone, and some tenacity getting through Detroit's defense to try and put some pressure on the puck below the goal line. 'You simulate what you think it's going to be, and then you actually get out there and it's a whole different level of hockey,' Snuggerud said. 'It's fun to get that first game in and see the pace.' 6th shift: (5:28-4:21) Back on the power play, Snuggerud nearly finds himself with a wide-open shot, but captain Brayden Schenn's pass is picked up. Snuggerud subsequently picks off the Red Wings' clearing attempt, but can't do much with the puck because the Blues would've been offside. 7th shift: (12:52-12:13) The Red Wings had the puck at the point and Snuggerud went down in an attempt to block a shot. Then, when the puck came around the wall, his quick stick allowed the Blues to clear the zone. 8th shift: (9:09-8:40) The Blues' Zack Bolduc made a pass to keep the puck low in the zone. Snuggerud was able to win a forecheck battle with the Red Wings defenseman and get the puck back out to the point. 'The defenseman are so skilled, and they make small, little plays,' Snuggerud said. 'You're just trying to get your stick on the puck and catch a piece of the body. You've got to work really hard to get on it.' 9th shift: (6:45-5:55) Snuggerud found a loose puck in the neutral zone and sent a cross-ice feed to Sundqvist. That allows Sundqvist to throw a puck toward the net, which Bolduc deflects wide, but it was a scoring chance created by Snuggerud. 'These players are so good, they're always in the right position,' he said. 'You see a peak of them, and if you can get the puck to them, they're going to be there and they're going to catch the puck.' 10th shift: (3:08-2:32) There wasn't much opportunity for Snuggerud on this shift, but twice he tries to provide puck support — first for Philip Broberg and then for Sundqvist — by staying close by and presenting his stick for a pass. 11th shift: (18:20-17:18) Snuggerud was active along the boards on this shift, but he lost the puck, and that created a scoring chance for the Red Wings at the other end. 12th shift: (15:10-14:47) Detroit got the first goal of the game from J.T. Compher, and while Snuggerud wasn't necessarily at fault, he felt he could have done more. 'I feel I should've backchecked to the house,' he said. 'It was kind of a broken play, broken puck, but I still should've had that guy backdoor. I was at the point and I was racing back, but I should've recognized it earlier.' 13th shift: (12:04-11:27) Snuggerud showed some speed getting around Detroit's defense and then hit Jake Neighbours with a pass at the front of the net. While they didn't score, it was a good chance. 'I felt like I had a step on the D,' Snuggerud said. 'Neighbours was backdoor for me, and I tried to get it over there for him.' 14th shift: (6:29-5:31) Snuggerud did a nice job of slowing up the forecheck and letting Fowler hit Compher. That allowed Snuggerud to stay aggressive in the other corner and pressure the puck until the Red Wings were able to exit. 15th shift: (2:02-:59) On his last shift of the game, Snuggerud tried to be a screen on a point shot. While it didn't work, it showed a lot of trust by Montgomery by having a player making his NHL debut on the ice in a 6-on-5 situation in a critical game for the team. 'You want to be in those situations as a player,' Snuggerud said. 'It's a hard league to play in, and to get a chance like that, it was really cool to be a part.' Snuggerud did not play in overtime, but Montgomery said he nearly used him. 'I think if we were going to make another change, it was going to be Neighbours and Snuggerud going over (the boards),' Montgomery said. '(Snuggerud) was making things happen. He drove that puck wide, and he went back post, and we just missed the tap-in. That's not the only clever play he made, and I thought he was responsible defensively.' It was a solid night for Snuggerud, and there will be plenty more. 'The first game was really fun,' he said. 'It was a nervous game, but it was fun to play with so many good players.' (Photo of Jimmy Snuggerud battling Detroit defenseman Simon Edvinsson: Jeff Le – Imagn Images)
New York Times
31-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Jimmy Snuggerud's first day with the Blues: A ride from the captain, a new number and a starting job
ST. LOUIS — The phone calls started coming in to the front desk at the St. Louis Blues practice facility at 5 a.m. Monday. 'Centene Community Ice Center, how may I assist you?' the receptionist said as she answered a dozen inquiries into the team's practice time. 'They're on the ice at 11.' The Jimmy Snuggerud era has officially begun. Advertisement The Blues announced Friday that they had signed Snuggerud to a three-year entry-level contract, and then the 20-year-old right winger joined the hottest team in the NHL after it secured its ninth consecutive win on Saturday in Colorado. 'It was a really quick turnaround — kind of from zero to 100 and a lot of emotions,' said Snuggerud, whose University of Minnesota team was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament last week. 'I'm really excited to be here now and meet this group of guys.' Speaking of quick, it appears that Snuggerud could be in the Blues' lineup right away. They host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday at Enterprise Center in the first game of a three-game homestand. 'Potentially,' Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. '(I'll) talk it over with the staff. He's a quality talent that we've acquired, and it's just going to make us deeper and better.' Snuggerud, a Hobey Baker finalist who finished with 24 goals and 51 points in 40 games at Minnesota this season, traveled to St. Louis over the weekend and stayed in a hotel the night before his first practice with the team. He admitted to having 'a little trouble sleeping' because of the excitement ahead of Monday's practice. Snuggerud was chauffeured to the Blues' practice facility by captain Brayden Schenn. The two players have the same agent, Ben Hankinson of Octagon Athlete Representation. 'Schenn picked me up,' Snuggerud said. 'He's been great. He's such a great leader — such a great person. Everything about him is just awesome. He's been through so much as a player, and you get to ride in the car with him and be his teammate now. It's so cool. You get to see life through his eyes.' Then just before 11 a.m., Snuggerud skated onto the ice for his first practice with the Blues and saw life as an NHL player through his own eyes. Snuggerud takes the ice with the Blues. #stlblues — Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) March 31, 2025 In the opening drill, Snuggerud was paired with Alexandre Texier. They made a few quick passes to each other, and with that, he was off and running. 'You have to be ready from the start,' Snuggerud said. 'There's so many good players on the ice, so just watch what they're doing and learn from them. It showed quick, though. It was a fast-paced practice — a lot of movement, a lot of speed. It's just to get on the ice with the guys.' Advertisement The decision to turn pro, Snuggerud said, was two-fold. First, he felt he had improved in the areas — speed, puck possession, leadership — that made him want to return to the Gophers for his junior season. 'I feel I worked on them well enough where I could jump on this team,' Snuggerud said. And second, he wanted to be part of a team that is sitting in the No. 2 wild card spot in the Western Conference on Monday, with 87 points. 'I want to be here for them and be by their side when they win hockey games,' Snuggerud said. 'That was the most important thing for me, making that jump — just knowing the mentality is hockey, hockey, hockey. There's no school anymore. It's hockey, and you're here to win hockey games.' There's no school, but there will be classes to complete — well, at some point. 'Hopefully I'll finish out,' Snuggerud said. 'We'll see how it goes.' Monday was about learning what the Blues want from him and what they see in him. 'I'd say advice playing-wise, it's just play hard, work your butt off, be competitive and use your hockey IQ,' Snuggerud said of what he's been told. Jimmy Snuggerud is here. #stlblues — St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 31, 2025 In a 35-minute practice, it didn't take Montgomery long to see why the club drafted Snuggerud at No. 23 in 2022. 'His hockey sense. His game management. His puck play was really good. His hands are exceptional. His skating is NHL speed,' Montgomery said. 'Those are things that you're looking to see, but the biggest thing is the brain. He thinks it so well.' Schenn also noted Snuggerud's shot, which produced two goals in Minnesota's 5-4 regional loss to the Massachusetts. In 119 career games with the Gophers, he had 66 goals. 'He can score,' Schenn said. The Blues had Snuggerud on the third line with Oskar Sundqvist and Zack Bolduc on Monday, giving an indication that he'll be in the lineup Tuesday. He was also on one of the power-play units, lining up in the bumper position. Advertisement 'He did a really good job there,' Montgomery said. 'Supported pucks well. He understands time and space. He's a scorer and a shooter, and those guys know how to get open. You could see his puck support and release were ideal for the bumper position.' But as the captain said, everyone should keep their expectations reasonable. 'Let him feel comfortable, and let him go from there,' Schenn said. 'He's going to be nervous. He was nervous today. He flat-out said it. He's never even done an NHL training camp, right? So it's our job to make him feel as comfortable as possible as quick as possible. 'Obviously he has elite talent, but at the same time, you don't expect him to come in here and be this guy that's going to save your season. He's just got to be a piece for us, and that's all we need from him.' Montgomery, who spent five seasons coaching at Denver University (2013 to '18), will lean on his experience with college-age players when bringing Snuggerud into the mix. 'It's the path that I know, what the adjustment is like,' Montgomery said. 'It's being able to give them a little bit of advice on what to expect the biggest differences will be and how he's going to have to adjust his game to be able to get the scoring chances that he's been used to getting at every level.' #stlblues practice lines: Neighours-Thomas-BuchnevichHolloway-Schenn-KyrouBolduc-Sundqvist-SnuggerudToropchenko-Faksa-WalkerExtras: Joseph, Texier, Dvorsky Fowler-LeddyBroberg-FaulkSuter-TuckerExtra: Parayko, Kessel BinningtonHofer — Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) March 31, 2025 Montgomery will also have to balance the emotions of players who might be taken out of the lineup to make room for Snuggerud and the disruption that could cause. For example, Mathieu Joseph was an extra forward in Monday's practice, as was Texier. 'As a coach, you never stop worrying about all of those possibilities,' Montgomery said. 'But in the end, I think if you communicate to everybody that's involved, especially your leaders, and they understand that when we bring in a new player, it's an opportunity for us to get better and that's why we're doing it. In the end, we all want to put the best players on the ice and the best team possible. I'll sit with the staff, and we'll see if we make a change to the lineup or not.' Advertisement Schenn wasn't concerned about the team's chemistry being affected. 'We're not going to worry about Jimmy being a disruption in our locker room,' he said. 'You hear a lot about him — hear he's a great kid, a guy that is well-liked by his teammates. He's going to be quiet initially. That's just the reality of coming into pro sports and being a young guy. If he has any questions, you're there to answer them. It's one of those things where you don't have to worry about him coming in and disrupting anything.' The Blues, in fact, let Snuggerud lead the post-practice stretch Monday and were tapping their sticks on the ice to show support for their new teammate. Meanwhile, the newest No. 21 in franchise history was saying and doing all of the right things. Why did Snuggerud, who wore No. 81 in college but can't have that number because it belongs to Dylan Holloway, take No. 21? 'I just looked at the list and happened to choose No. 21,' he said. 'I'm playing for what's on the front.' And on jumping into the lineup with a team that's in a playoff race? 'You dream of it as a kid, but I'm playing for everyone else in here,' Snuggerud said. 'I'm here to win hockey games. They're the hottest team in the NHL, and I'm so lucky and grateful to be a part of it.' (Photo of Jimmy Snuggerud and Alexandre Texier courtesy of the Blues)
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Blues Top Prospect Expected To Make NHL Debut Tuesday
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Like any nervous kid looking to do something for the first time Jimmy Snuggerud was like a sponge on Monday. The 2022 first-round pick (No. 23) by the St. Louis Blues was on the practice ice on Monday for the first time after signing his three-year, entry-level contract on Friday, just one day after a premature ending to his collegiate season – and career – when the Minnesota Golden Gophers fell to Massachusetts 5-4 in overtime on Thursday at the Fargo Regional semifinals. Advertisement And judging by practice line combinations and power play drills, the 20-year-old is expected to make his NHL debut when the Blues (40-28-7) put their nine-game winning streak on the line to begin a three-game homestand on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings (34-33-6). 'Potentially,' Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. 'He had a good practice, will talk it over with the staff, but there's some quality talent that we've acquired and is going to make us deeper, better.' Snuggerud, who had 51 points (24 goals, 27 assists) in 40 games for the Golden Gophers this season, was on a line with Oskar Sundqvist and Zack Bolduc on Monday and played the bumper with one of the Blues' power-play units. Advertisement 'It was good. It was a fast-paced practice,' Snuggerud said. 'A lot of movement, a lot of speed. It was fun. It was just great to be on the ice with the guys. 'It's kind of just learning from other guys and watching. The speed, it showed quick. The first drill, you kind of have to be ready from the start and there's so many good players on the ice, so just watch them and what they're doing and kind of learn from them.' It's been a whirlwind of emotions for the 20-year-old, who went back to school on his own accord, to not only better himself in certain areas he felt he wasn't ready for to compete at this level yet but also to try and win a national championship, which he unfortunately was unable to do. 'It's kind of hard to turn the page quick, but you kind of have to honestly,' Snuggerud said. 'You jump from one team to another team who is the hottest team in the National Hockey League. You've got to switch your mindset quick. I think I've learned from a lot of people in my life that have taught me to do that. It's been an easy adjustment. Advertisement 'It was a really quick turnaround honestly. From zero to 100. A lot of emotions honestly. You lose your season and I'm really excited to be here now and meet this group of guys.' Should Snuggerud jump into the lineup, he will go in for Mathieu Joseph, who was an extra along with 2023 first-round pick (No. 10 overall) Dalibor Dvorsky and Alexandre Texier. 'You come in and let him play, let him feel comfortable and go from there,' Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. 'He's going to be nervous, he was nervous today. He flat-out said it, right. He's never been in an NHL training camp, right, so it's our job to make him feel as comfortable as possible as quick as possible. Obviously he has elite talent and at the same time, you don't expect him to come in here and be this guy that's going to save your season or whatever. He's just got to be a piece for us and that's all we need from him and just play his game.' Montgomery admitted prior to Monday not knowing anything about Snuggerud other than what he's maybe seen on television or read about him. And after a practice session, he's learned, 'His hockey sense, his game management, his puck play was really good. His hands are exceptional, his skating is NHL speed. Those are things you're looking to see, but the biggest thing is the brain, that he thinks it so well.' Advertisement With the Blues, who hold the second wild card from the Western Conference, on an absolute tear, does it disrupt the room implementing someone new into the lineup? 'We're not going to worry about Jimmy being a disruption in our locker room,' said Schenn, who drove Snuggerud to the rink on Monday. 'I think our locker room's good enough where he can come in and just be a piece for us and a guy that has a lot of skill and a lot of talent that can fit in well for us. Even in the run, Matt Kessel stepped in for a game, Dvorsky stepped in for a game. It's one of those things where you don't have to worry about him coming in and disrupting or any of that stuff. That's not what we're worried about. You let him come in, find his game, but at the same time, don't put pressure on him. Just let him play and let him get better game by game.' Montgomery said, though, it was something that needed to be addressed with the leaders. 'As a coach, you never stop worrying about all those possibilities, but in the end, I think if you communicate to everybody that's involved, especially your leaders, and they understand that when we bring in a new player, it's an opportunity for us to get better, and that's why we're doing it, and in the end, we all want to put the best players on the ice and the best team possible,' Montgomery said. 'I'll sit with the staff and we'll see if we make a change in the lineup or not.' Advertisement The points of emphasis Snuggerud feels he's equipped to handle now include, 'Speed, puck possession, poise, leadership things. Those things are kind of why I decided to come back and that's what I wanted to work on. I feel like I worked on those things well enough to a point where I could jump on this team. But like I said before, it's a fast-paced game and I'm really lucky and fortunate to be here and I feel like I've improved myself to be here, but there's still a long ways to go. 'I feel like my game has evolved over the past year. Obviously the speed is different. Guys in here want to win and I think I have that winning mentality. I just want to win games and I want to be here for them, be by their side when they win hockey games. That was kind of the most important thing for me is making that jump knowing the mentality is hockey, hockey, hockey. There's no school anymore. It's just hockey and you're here to win hockey games and that's it.' 'Everyone in here is so nice. Just meeting the guys already, it's such a tight-knit group of guys. It's cool to meet them and talk to guys on the ice. There's some Minnesota guys in here too so it's cool to connect with them. There's some college players too. It's just cool the connections you can start and create with guys in this locker room.' Advertisement Snuggerud, who chose No. 21; not out of a connection, but because, 'I just happened to look at the list and happened to choose 21. I'm kind of playing for what's on the front,' goes from playing for one title and jumping into a playoff race probably eases somewhat the sting of not accomplishing what he wanted when he went back to college. 'It's cool. You dream of it as a kid,' he said. 'You obviously still don't know yet. But I'm playing for everyone else in here. I'm here to win hockey games. Hopefully that's what I kind of entail on other guys. They're the hottest team in the NHL and I'm so lucky and grateful to be a part of it.'
