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.
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.
“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.
“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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
