GDT: St. Louis Blues 2022 Draft Thread

[MortiestOfMortys]

I remember watching Kurker in a couple games early in his first year at BU and he looked like he had legit ability. Good size, athleticism, puck skills, and shot. And I didn't readily notice tremendous deficiencies. If anything, it's almost like he was unlucky. Created good chances other players couldn't, but also couldn't quite convert. But I could definitely see why the Blues and BU liked him. I recall commentators praising both his play in those games and what he'd become in the future. I've seen some Blues fans talk about him after the fact like he was always a bad pick, but, to me, it was weird that he fizzled so hard, so quickly.

Our takes are one in the same to me, but I for sure see where you're coming from. Sometimes dudes just don't put it all together. It's a higher risk when you take them straight out of high school (which is why I'm glad we didn't take Rinzel). Comparing/contrasting against Snuggerud: it does at least appear as though Snuggerud has the finishing ability that Kurker lacked, and more general value across all 3 zones than Kurker did. I didn't like the swing on Kurker at the time (given who else was on the board), and that was confirmed by what came after. The moral of that story is don't take swings on gaudy high school numbers, and we haven't done that since then, so I feel like we've learned our lesson there. But in a really shallow draft year like this one, or 2012, those guys start to enter the conversation, which is more of an indictment of the class than it is an endorsement of them. So Kurker was more a victim of circumstance than anything; he would have been a perfectly fine swing in the 4th. I don't think Snuggerud is going to be Kurker pt 2, but time will tell. Potential is a crazy drug sometimes, it really all comes down to whether or not you can reach it. Seems like this kid is working like crazy to get there, so I'll hold out hope until realizes it or not.

 

[TK 421]

Lambert is high skilled. Was tem Finland best player in wjc. Reminds so much of Aho.
Btw he is half Canadian too, but...

He has impressive skills, very impressive speed and stick handling. He also has a ten cent head and doesn't utilize his linemates well while frequently skating himself right into a corner. His father is said to be a pain in the ass and from what I've read he doesn't handle adversity very well. That's plenty of warning signs that he could be a bad investment. Could some team possibly benefit if he puts it all together? Sure, but I hope it's not my team burning a high pick on him.

 

[ezcreepin]

Is it me, or does Snuggerud look eerily similar to Langenbrunner and have an equally goofy last name along with similar sounding first names? COINCIDENCE??!!?

 

[TheDizee]

Is it me, or does Snuggerud look eerily similar to Langenbrunner and have an equally goofy last name along with similar sounding first names? COINCIDENCE??!!?

yep was gonna say, looks like langenbrunner's doppelganger.

 

[Ranksu]

He has impressive skills, very impressive speed and stick handling. He also has a ten cent head and doesn't utilize his linemates well while frequently skating himself right into a corner. His father is said to be a pain in the ass and from what I've read he doesn't handle adversity very well. That's plenty of warning signs that he could be a bad investment. Could some team possibly benefit if he puts it all together? Sure, but I hope it's not my team burning a high pick on him.

Rather go with high end talent. These are still kids. Hate to see how much he fall knowing how talented kid is. Jet's got stem. What makes him unique he will shoot from right. Makes me sick we didn't take him.

Just look kids skills.

 

[Beauterham]

We really didn't take Lambert who was available...

To be honest, If we're talking about Fins, I'm higher on Jani Nyman then I am on Lambert. God, I wish we had a early 2nd to pick him.

 

[BlueDream]

To be honest, If we're talking about Fins, I'm higher on Jani Nyman then I am on Lambert. God, I wish we had a early 2nd to pick him.

I’m very curious to see if the Blues try to recoup a 2nd rounder today in a trade.

That’s why I think a trade on Friday involving someone like Tarasenko or Barbashev is more likely than it was during the 1st round.

 

[Beauterham]

By the way, if you look at the consolidated rankings, these are the 'first round picks' still available:

023. Jagger Firkus RW
028. Ryan Chesley RD
029. Calle Odelius LD
030. Gleb Trikozov C
031. Owen Beck C



ps. Also watched Bill Armstrong's interview after the first round. Gotta love that man. Really understand why McBain and Smith really \wanted to play for him in Arizona.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Quote from John Vanbiesbrouck USA hockeys director, “with his release and nose for the net, I think he’s going to be a 30-goal type. I see a ton of upside. He really works hard and he’s in great shape. He’s overcome a lot of things that people said he is not good at. He’s a power forward with a lot of touch to his game. People talk about his lack of speed to his game, but he’s a strong skater. Not to put him in Brett Hulls category, but Brett’s #1 thing was to find soft areas, and one touch the puck to the net. Jimmy finds those areas as well. It’s a subtle thing in his game he does very well.”

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Our takes are one in the same to me, but I for sure see where you're coming from. Sometimes dudes just don't put it all together. It's a higher risk when you take them straight out of high school (which is why I'm glad we didn't take Rinzel). Comparing/contrasting against Snuggerud: it does at least appear as though Snuggerud has the finishing ability that Kurker lacked, and more general value across all 3 zones than Kurker did. I didn't like the swing on Kurker at the time (given who else was on the board), and that was confirmed by what came after. The moral of that story is don't take swings on gaudy high school numbers, and we haven't done that since then, so I feel like we've learned our lesson there. But in a really shallow draft year like this one, or 2012, those guys start to enter the conversation, which is more of an indictment of the class than it is an endorsement of them. So Kurker was more a victim of circumstance than anything; he would have been a perfectly fine swing in the 4th. I don't think Snuggerud is going to be Kurker pt 2, but time will tell. Potential is a crazy drug sometimes, it really all comes down to whether or not you can reach it. Seems like this kid is working like crazy to get there, so I'll hold out hope until realizes it or not.

It was pretty apparent that Kurker didn’t want to put the work in once he got to school. He couldn’t stay out of the penalty box and sat because of it (daily free press). No kid walks into a program like Boston University and doesn’t put his time in. Hardest part of drafting an 18 year old….are they motivated with adversity?

 

[Frenzy31]

If we were doing the summer prospect ranking today, I'd put Jimmy in the same bracket as Dylan Peterson. Good skills, good size, wtf is going on with his numbers, both have skating issues, but he's going on to college so maybe he gets the chance to figure it out there. Disappointing for the first round? Yeah, probably, but in this draft it's about as good as you're gonna do in the 20s. If either of them turn out to be another Sam Kurker, I'll be bummed about it, but at the same time, this draft is a down year for sure, so what can you expect?

Why Peterson? His biggest knock was scoring ability, it skating. In fact when he was drafted the thought was he was going to be an NHLer - safe pick, based on the rest of his game.

I personally hate the “safe pick” label. Goes right to 3 and 4th line guy.

 

[eibyyz]

yep was gonna say, looks like langenbrunner's doppelganger.

I saw Langenbrunner's Doppelganger open for Steven Wilson and Van De Graaff Generator at the Kingdom Hall in Granite City once...

 

[Spear]

Husso's rights traded

Blues acquire pick from Detroit for Husso

 

[Vladys Gumption]

Holy shit. Friedman reporting Detroit and Husso close to agreeing on a 3 year deal with 4.75 million AAV.

 

[Bluesnatic27]

I think Snuggerud is a fine pick. He’s the middle ground between the truly high-end ceiling with risk (Lambert) vs. the high-floor, low-ceiling picks (Kulich, Pickering). I value that he has an identifiable strength that will be valued at the NHL level as opposed to the Jack-of-all trades player like Yurov.

I was lukewarm on picks in the past, but so far the Blues scouting staff have earned the benefit of the doubt. I doubt Snuggerud becomes a future integral part of the team like how Bolduc has looked this far. I think someone gave a Saad comparison and I think that’s apt. Put him in the right situation and he’ll be fine. Just don’t expect him to elevate a line in any one direction.

 

[PocketNines]

If Snuggerud has skating weaknesses and Saad could shut down Makar, I am not seeing the comparison.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Not sure if it was posted and I can't find it now, but I saw one of the writers/analysts last night post about how when they asked the USNDT who they most underrated/under-appreciated player was, Snuggerud was they guy they said that didn't get enough credit. I think that's always a good sign when the players around them know they bring more to team than just what the highlights show. Another aspect of being a Bluesy pick and why it's a good thing.

 

[Drubilly]

Not sure if it was posted and I can't find it now, but I saw one of the writers/analysts last night post about how when they asked the USNDT who they most underrated/under-appreciated player was, Snuggerud was they guy they said that didn't get enough credit. I think that's always a good sign when the players around them know they bring more to team than just what the highlights show. Another aspect of being a Bluesy pick and why it's a good thing.

I read that blurb as well. I think it was Pronman or Wheeler…

 

[Majorityof1]

I read that blurb as well. I think it was Pronman or Wheeler…

It was Wheeler, who had him ranked very highly. I believe he had him a top 10 undrafted prospect.

 

[bluesfan94]

Didn't realize Snuggerud was one of the younger players in the draft. Definitely could still grow and should develop.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Yeah, it was Wheeler. I know these blurbs are always going to be more positive than not, but everything about how he plays fits us. Even the part about a lot of low to high plays in the slot that fits how Thomas and our offense last season perfectly.

26. Jimmy Snuggerud — RW, U.S. NTDP, 6-foot-2​

Over the course of every season, I poll U.S. NTDP players for their most underrated teammate. When the answers are scattered, I tend not to read too much into them. But when they’re close to unanimous, it’s hard not to read into what they see in practices and the rest that we maybe haven’t given enough shine to. This year, the answers were unflinching for two players: Snuggerud and Marek Hejduk. The latter is driven by his in-and-out-of-the-lineup year and the respect they all have for the way he handled it and the way he elevated everyone else with his work ethic. But Snuggerud, I know, is because they think he’s a darn good player and he doesn’t get the love he deserves playing on a line with Cooley and Gauthier, and a team that featured them plus Nazar, Howard and McGroarty up front.

Snuggerud is a well-rounded three-zone player with a versatile offensive game who works harder than anyone out there. His head is always up and on a swivel, even in congested areas. He’s good below the goal line and makes a lot of low-to-high plays into the slot to find cutting teammates for chances. He sticks with the play and follows shots to the net to get to rebounds, playing a determined forechecking game.

He’s got a dangerous one-timer and catch-and-release wrister but he doesn’t tunnel vision for his shot, he sees the ice well, and he can make plays back against the grain. He’s got good hands, which help him make outside-in plays to beat defenders one-on-one more than he gets credit for. He uses space well and makes a lot of plays off of his backhand. His skating is a work in progress but I know he’s committed to it and spends a lot of time on it in the offseason. He’s also got a pro frame to build upon and a June birthday that gives him good runway.

 

[Beauterham]

Wow, Cameron Lund went alot higher than I expected... Had him in the 4th.


hope a guy like Rohrer, Pointras or Dumais is still there at 73.

EDIT: Minten to the Leafs. Was one of the most underrrated guys in most scouting lists IMO.

 

[tfriede2]

Russians of note still on the board: Trikozov, Neuchev, Dholzenkov. I’m looking at Trikozov if we go forward with one of our picks.

 

[Bluesnatic27]

Russians of note still on the board: Trikozov, Neuchev, Dholzenkov. I’m looking at Trikozov if we go forward with one of our picks.

Trikozov would be such a fun prospect to watch develop. Really raw, but really exciting.

 

[PocketNines]

Dallas takes Kyrou at 50