W Jimmy Snuggerud - Minnesota Golden Gophers, NCAA (2022, 23rd, STL)

Peasy

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May 25, 2012
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Yeah if Snugs keeps up this type of play all year, I don't really see him spending much time, if at all any time in the AHL.
 

LGB

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Feb 4, 2019
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I see no reason Snuggerud would play in the AHL besides trying to help the Thunderbirds on a playoff run after Minnesota's season assuming the Blues are tanking. Next year I have little doubt he will be in the NHL. I'm excited to see him and Thomas on a line together, think they would complement each other really well.
 
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Obvious Fabertism

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Just my IMO as a neutral (well Wild fan, so maybe not true neutral), but too early to say where he belongs next year, he still has lots of things he can build in his game, the kind of progress he makes throughout this season will play an oversized role in where he belongs next season.
 

Bonin21

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May 1, 2014
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At this point I would not predict he will play 70+ NHL games next season. Still needs seasoning.
 

TK 421

Barbashev eats babies pass it on
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The release is worth watching on all 3 goals too, when you see how quickly he can get shots off you can tell he'll be dangerous even with less time and space at the NHL level. He also has velocity that allows him to be an intriguing scoring threat from anywhere in the offensive zone.

Last year he was already a very strong puck possession forward but his shot, which was already a plus weapon, seems even deadlier now. Looking forward to him making the Blues right out of camp next year and I would think he'll be closer to 6'2, 190-195 lbs at that point. Between him and Kyrou the Blues RW future looks pretty good.
 

Bonin21

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Little dose of reality here: Since the 5 goal weekend he really hasn't done much. No 5 on 5 goals in the last ten games. It's clear he's leaving after this season and part of me wonders if he has half a foot out the door already.

He could use another year in college. I expect he will struggle with the speed increase next year and spend at least half the season in the AHL.
 
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Godfather

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Feb 13, 2004
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He’s sticking around for the playoffs, then will be in the AHL or Blues. Time to leave College Hockey.
 

MNRube

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Little dose of reality here: Since the 5 goal weekend he really hasn't done much. No 5 on 5 goals in the last ten games. It's clear he's leaving after this season and part of me wonders if he has half a foot out the door already.

He could use another year in college. I expect he will struggle with the speed increase next year and spend at least half the season in the AHL.
No Snuggy Bear slander is allowed here
 

57special

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Why is that Yurov, playing very well in a better league, is spending another year in the KHL for “development”, yet Snuggerud is considered NHL ready this spring? Is MN being too cautious, or is STL (or their fans), rushing him?
 

EbonyRaptor

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No Snuggy Bear slander is allowed here

No slander here - but I wonder if he hasn't just hit a bit of a dry patch and is pressing a bit. I watch a lot of UMinn games because I'm watching the Hawks prospects (Moore and Rinzel) and something seems a little off. It still seems like he's attempting a lot of shots but his timing is off like he's rushing things a bit. Hopefully that OT winner settles him down a bit and gets him back on track.
 

TK 421

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The Blues want him to turn pro and the rest is up to Snuggles, whether you personally think he's ready for NHL hockey or not is irrelevant.

The Blues are at a place where they aren't a PO contender and can afford to develop players elsewhere while playing league min vets on the NHL club. As time goes on some of those vets deals expire and the timing is right to replace a vet with a prospect. Snuggerud is that guy for the Blues next year and he'll directly replace Kapanen in the Blues lineup as a middle 6 RW. "OMG HE"LL STILL HAVE STUFF TO LEARN!!!'. Yeah that's typically how it goes, despite thinking you know it all in your 20's it turns out you actually can learn new things and this is a kid who has already gotten a reputation as a guy willing to work on his deficiencies to the point where his teammates at NTDP voted him most improved during his draft year.

I doubt he plays even a single minute of AHL hockey but let's entertain that idea and play it out. First off let's acknowledge that if he doesn't play any AHL next year that it doesn't necessarily mean he couldn't benefit from time at that level. It means the Blues feel he's good enough to start his NHL career and start learning on the job. However let's say he finds himself on AHL Springfield's roster, not a bad spot to be considering the Blues already have former 1st Rd picks Bolduc and Dean there. Bolduc has transitioned really well and is a much more well rounded pro than he was just a year ago and while Dean hasn't had as easy a time transitioning they both will have their 1st pro season out of the way and will be in a better position to support newcomers like Snuggerud and '23 10th overall C Dalibor Dvorsky. Snuggerud will have strong support and a good development situation whether it's AHL Springfield or NHL St. Louis for him but I'd put my money on the Blues choosing to develop him at the NHL level.
 

emptyNedder

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Why is that Yurov, playing very well in a better league, is spending another year in the KHL for “development”, yet Snuggerud is considered NHL ready this spring? Is MN being too cautious, or is STL (or their fans), rushing him?
You and I usually see things similarly--but I think you are missing that the NCAA has been an strong development league recently:
Faber, L Hughes, Power, Cooley, Fantilli, Knies, Sanderson, Laferriere.
 

Herby

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Same situation with many prospects before him, if he is going to play in the NHL he should leave, if he's destined for a season in the AHL he should return.
 

57special

Posting the right way since 2012.
Sep 5, 2012
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You and I usually see things similarly--but I think you are missing that the NCAA has been an strong development league recently:
Faber, L Hughes, Power, Cooley, Fantilli, Knies, Sanderson, Laferriere.
My comment might be more of a criticism of Guerin and him not getting Yurov over next season(my view) than a statement about Snuggerud And his development. I do prefer to overcook my college prospects rather than stick them in the pros prematurely, but Snuggerud appears to have the frame to withstand pro hockey. Yurov is already playing in pro hockey, and doing very well, so I don’t understand WTH Guerin is thinking.
 

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