The Blues went down a familiar path in the first round of the NHL draft, selecting a forward - Jimmy Snuggerud of the United States National Team Development Program (NTDP) at No. 23 overall Thursday in Montreal.
The Blues haven’t taken a defenseman in the opening round since Jordan Schmaltz in 2012.
Snuggerud, who turned 18 on June 1, scored 24 goals with 39 assists in 59 games for the NTDP squad this past season. His seven power play goals were second on the squad to Logan Cooley, who was selected third overall Thursday by the Arizona Coyotes.
He’s from Chaska, Minn., in the Minneapolis area, and is scheduled to play at the University of Minnesota next fall.
“All of the mock drafts had him rated in the area where we took him,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong told the Post-Dispatch. “He can score, he’s got scoring ability, a winger, someone that we think has the ability to play today’s game.”
Snuggerud’s father, Dave, also played at the University of Minnesota, wearing jersey No. 18 for the Golden Gophers. Jimmy plans to wear jersey No. 81.
In addition, Dave Snuggerud also played for the U.S. national team, appearing in the 1988 Winter Olympics. He then played 265 games in the NHL at forward from 1989-93 for Buffalo, San Jose and Philadelphia.
Jimmy’s grandfather, James Westby, also played for Team USA back in the day, appearing in the men’s World Championships.
The thing that stands out most about Snuggerud’s game is a shot that is said to be elite. Big and strong at 6-1, 188, is a power forward with a scorer’s touch. He’s said to have an effective one-timer and ability to find the soft, open areas of the ice.
“He’s got an NHL shot now, the (scouts) feel,” Armstrong said. “We’re not in a position where we need to rush anyone. We’re gonna let him go to a really good program under top-level coaching and development.
“We’ll get him into our summer development program we hope and then we’ll just sort of monitor him. And when he’s ready to turn pro we’ll bring him out. But right now, it’s just getting his feet under him at the college level.”
Various scouting reports say that his skating needs work, but he is said to have gotten much better in that area and was voted the team’s most improved player this past season.
“I think all players have areas where they may need improvement, but he’s a very dedicated athlete, and that’s something that we don’t think will be a concern moving forward,” Armstrong said.
His childhood friend from Chaska and former youth teammate Sam Rinzel was taken two picks later by the Chicago Blackhawks.
All told, Snuggerud was among five players from the NTDP under-18 squad selected in the first round Thursday.
Quiet on the trade front
For Blues fans looking for chaos – you know, trades, movement – Thursday wasn’t your night.
For months, the Vladimir Tarasenko trade request of last summer seemed like a dead issue. Apparently not. Tarasenko never rescinded his trade request from a year ago and still wants to be traded – recently telling an acquaintance he needs a new challenge.
Nothing happened on that front Thursday, but that doesn’t mean a trade won’t materialize at some point.
Whether that happens or not, of course, is up to Armstrong. Last year, you may recall, Tarasenko was there for the taking by the Seattle Kraken after getting exposed by the Blues in the expansion draft.
That didn’t happen and with his trade value diminished by multiple shoulder surgeries, Tarasenko stayed put. He did much more than stay healthy registering a career-high 82 points on 34 goals and 48 assists.
During the past season, Tarasenko seemed happy and kept pretty quiet, doing only about a half-dozen interviews over the course of the season. (He was very hesitant to talk after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, wary of getting questions about that conflict.)
At one time, teams like Florida, Tampa Bay, the New York Islanders and New York Rangers were thought to be at the top of Tarasenko’s preferred trade list. It’s not clear if that remains the case, although Tarasenko has routinely trained and spent time in the Miami area in the offseason.
As recently as the end of May, following the Blues’ playoff elimination to Colorado, Armstrong said: “I’m not concerned about Vladi for next year at all.
But it now looks as if Tarasenko still wants out, a year after being critical of team doctors and trainers, as well as being unhappy over his role during that season. Tarasenko has a full no-trade clause, and would have to approve any move. But as was the case last season, Armstrong isn’t going to give him away.
Armstrong declined to discuss Tarasenko on Thursday, or anything else trade related, saying he wasn’t going to discuss rumors.
Speaking of which, there have also been rumors about the Blues gauging trade interest in defensemen Torey Krug and Scott Perunovich.
With free agency around the corner – it begins July 13 – the Blues are expected to talk with representatives of goalie Ville Husso on Friday. There is also talk that goalie Charlie Lindgren was receiving at least initial interest from several teams.
Husso and Lindgren are both scheduled for unrestricted free agency.
As for the draft, the final six rounds take place Friday. The Blues don’t have a pick in the second round – that went to the New York Rangers in last year’s Pavel Buchnevich trade. Their first pick in the draft will be in the third round at No. 88 overall.
Additionally, the younger brothers of Blues players Ivan Barbashev and Jordan Kyrou could be taken Friday. Christian Kyrou is a defenseman from Erie of the Ontario Hockey League. Maxim Barbashev is a forward from Moncton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
