The Minnesota Gophers saw their season come to abrupt in on Thursday when they fell to Massachusetts in overtime in the 2025 NCAA Fargo Regional Semifinals. The game could be the last one Jimmy Snuggerud plays for the Gophers. The St. Louis Blues prospect now has a choice to make. He can return to Minnesota for his senior season. On the other hand, he can officially join the Blues to conclude the season, either in the American Hockey League or directly with the Blues. Snuggerud gave no indication one way or another after Thursday’s game. However, we do know what his options are. The question is, what makes the most sense?
Snuggerud’s Future
We should stress right away that whatever happens is Snuggerud’s decision. The Blues have no say in whether he returns for his senior citizen or signs his entry-level contract. All the Blues can do right now is offer him the contract. The puck is firmly on Snuggerud’s stick.
Snuggerud has enjoyed his time as a Gopher. His decision to return for his junior year shocked many, as Snuggerud seemed ready for the NHL. However, the forward returned because he wanted to win a championship with the Gophers. His dedication and passion for his college should be admired. As we keep all this mind, it should surpirse very few if Snuggerud chooses to return for his senior season for one last season and one last chance to win.
However, aside from winning a championship, what else is there for Snuggerud to accomplish with the Gophers? He has scored 66 goals in 119 college games. Furthermore, he scored twice in Thursday’s game. Snuggerud’s talent is not in question. He has proven he can score. As a result, the logical next step is to sign his entry-level contract and join the NHL.
AHL or NHL?
If Snuggerud signs his entry-level contract, the Blues will have two options. They can assign him to the AHL where he will play out the remainder of the season with the Springfield Thunderbirds. The other option is promoting Snuggerud to the NHL and having him join the Blues roster. However, it is important to understand that Snuggerud cannot be rotated between Springfield and the Blues. Once he is assigned to one, he remains there for the rest of the season.
Assigning Snuggerud to Springfield would have some advantages. For starters, the talent in the AHL is stronger than in college, so Snuggerud would be getting action against tougher competition, which will be good for his development. Furthermore, Snuggerud would get significantly more playing time in Springfield then he might in St. Louis.
However, is that the best option for Snuggerud’s future?
Give Snuggerud the Blue Note
Snuggereud’s future would benefit the most from being sent to the Blues instead of Springfield. At first glance, this may not make much sense. The Blues are fighting for a playoff spot. They extended their winning to streak to eight games with a win on Thursday. Above all, the roster is clicking as a hole. Where would Snuggerud fit into the lineup?
The answer is simple. He does not fit at this time. At least, not in a long-term way. He could fill in any injured plays, similar to how Dalibor Dvorksy filled in for Pavel Buchnevich last Sunday. He could enter the lineup if someone needed a maintenance day. However, with only eight games left in the season, players are not going to be getting days off unless they are truly injured or not playing effectively. The window for Snuggerud to enter the lineup is hardly open. If Snuggerud joins the Blues, he will receive little playing time and the first year of his entry-level contract will expire. To the naked eye, this does not seem like an appealing option for Snuggerud or the Blues.
However, putting Snuggerud on the roster does have advantages that would benefit the youngster.
Playoff Intensity
Snuggerud is a competitive hockey player. He stayed with the Gophers because he wanted to win. He does not settle for good enough.
Having Snuggerud join the Blues roster would put him right in the middle of the Stanley Cup Playoff race. Right away, Snuggerud would get a taste of the intensity of fighting for the playoffs. The NHL playoff race is intense and offers more intensity than anything at the college level. The Blues should let Snuggerud get a taste of that intensity. For a player that is projected to be a face of the franchise soon, it would be beneficial for him to be part of that atmosphere early. Again, he may not play much, but he would be skating with the team and participating in practice. That early exposure could be beneficial down the road.
Roster Familiarity
If Snuggerud signs his entry-level contract, he should join the Blues roster because the roster the team has now is going to be almost the exact same next season. As of now, the only two unrestricted free agents are Radek Faksa and Ryan Suter. However, Suter has already expressed interest in remaining with the team beyond this season. The roster could change some, and whether it does or not may end up being a result of what becomes of Torey Krug‘s injury, but for the most part, the players Snuggerud will be playing with next year will be on the roster already.
This roster is very close. They enjoy playing with and for one another. This has been a key contributor to the team’s winning. The players did not want Doug Armstrong to sell at the trade deadline, despite their being plenty of trade candidates and suitors out there. This roster is very close. If Snuggerud is going to be playing with these players next season, it would make sense to have him begin to interact with his teammates. This would speed up the process come training camp and may end up creating some chemistry before the summer. As a result, Snuggerud and the Blues will already have a close relationship prior to puck drop of the 2025-26 season.
Off-Ice Growth
As you can tell, our reasons for suggesting Snuggerud joining the Blues roster is centered around the idea of off-ice growth. No, he is likely to not play a lot. However, there are many opportunities present off-ice that can play a large role in Snuggerud’s future. From exposure to the playoff race to team chemistry, these are things that would be worth burning a year of his entry-level contract.
This example is not from hockey, but when Patrick Mahomes is asked about what he credits to his success, what does he say? He talks about playing behind Alex Smith in 2017. Mahomes was not a starter on day one, but he learned and grew a lot. He is now a two-time NFL MVP and a three-time Super Bowl Champion.
Off-ice growth could help Snuggerud develop into a future star.
The post Jimmy Snuggerud’s Future; What Comes Next? appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.