How the Blues got to the playoffs: The most impactful moves made by GM Doug Armstrong
The end result was how the plan was supposed to unfold for Blues general manager Doug Armstrong.
Contend for a playoff spot in the NHL while developing young talent at lower levels. Check, check. But how the Blues got to a postseason berth was not a straight line. Here are some of the moves made by Armstrong that led أغر؟´«أ½ back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
Hiring Jim Montgomery
This was the biggest move Armstrong made this season, firing Drew Bannister and hiring Jim Montgomery on Nov. 24 after the Blues started the season 9-12-1. Montgomery was fired by the Bruins less than a week before the Blues scooped him up and signed him to a five-year contract.
Under Montgomery, the Blues defense became one of the best in the NHL. Dylan Holloway produced at a point-per-game pace. Zack Bolduc scored all 19 of his goals this season with Montgomery behind the bench. The power play was top five in the league since the Winter Classic.
The Blues went 35-18-7 under Montgomery, a .642 points percentage that was the eighth-best in the NHL across that time.
Acquiring Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg
In August, Armstrong and the Blues successfully acquired Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from Edmonton via offer sheets, and the two former first-round picks developed into key contributors this season.
Holloway became one of the Blues’ most dangerous players offensively, putting up 63 points in 77 games to explode past the 18 points he totaled in 89 games with the Oilers. His $2.29 million cap hit became one of the best bargains in the league, as Holloway, Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou formed a potent second line.
Broberg, meanwhile, became a bona fide top-four defenseman and finished the season with 29 points in 68 games. Early on, he was the Blues best defenseman, and he helped steady the أغر؟´«أ½ blue line when Colton Parayko missed 17 games with a knee injury.
Trading for Cam Fowler
When the Blues picked up Cam Fowler from Anaheim in mid-December, no one could have imagined Fowler’s fit in أغر؟´«أ½ would have been this seamless. The Blues traded a 2027 second-round pick and ECHL defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka to Anaheim for Fowler and a 2027 fourth-round pick on Dec. 14. The Ducks also agreed to retain 38.46% of Fowler’s salary, turning his $6.5 million cap hit into a $4 million one in أغر؟´«أ½.
Since the Blues traded for Fowler, he’s been one of the most productive defensemen in the NHL. His 36 points are ninth among NHL defensemen, and his 28 even-strength points are fifth. In the 51 games with أغر؟´«أ½, Fowler has been on the ice for 56 Blues goals at 5 on 5. No other defenseman in the NHL has been on the ice for more goals for since then, and the Blues are plus-23 with Fowler on the ice at 5 on 5, per Natural Stat Trick.
Fowler will likely skate on the top pairing with Colton Parayko during the playoffs.
Terminating Brandon Saad’s contract
The Blues waived forward Brandon Saad on Jan. 28 during an underwhelming and uneven season in أغر؟´«أ½, and then mutually agreed to terminate his contract two days later. Saad walked away from about $5.425 million to terminate his contract, and the Blues were free of his deal for both this season and next.
At the time, Armstrong said waiving Saad would allow for more ice time for Alexandre Texier, and Texier did play immediately after the Blues moved on from Saad. But the bigger impact was that younger forwards like Zack Bolduc and Dylan Holloway averaged more than a minute more of ice time after Saad’s departure. It’s also worth wondering where Jimmy Snuggerud would have fit in had Saad still been around on the roster.
Standing pat at the trade deadline
The March 7 trade deadline came and went without any moves by the Blues, even though they were one of the most talked about teams entering the deadline. The Blues went 5-1-1 in the seven games before the trade deadline, potentially leading Armstrong not to sell.
Captain Brayden Schenn was in rumors for weeks heading into the deadline, but held a no-trade clause. Neither Schenn nor Armstrong would say whether Schenn was asked to waive it, but Schenn remained in أغر؟´«أ½ nonetheless and led the Blues into a playoff spot.
Cutting ties with fringe players
At different points throughout this season, the Blues have purged their roster of players that weren’t likely to make an impact the rest of the season. They waived forward Kasperi Kapanen on Nov. 18. They sent defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph to Pittsburgh in December and Scott Perunovich to the Islanders in January, both for nothing in return.
But the absences on defense in particular allowed more ice time for Tyler Tucker, and he helped the Blues through Colton Parayko’s absence by absorbing more penalty-killing minutes.
How one practice hit displayed Pavel Buchnevich's mental reset, post-break resurgence
Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich moves the puck around Jack McBain of the Utah Hockey Club in the first period of the regular-season finale Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
The hit that could have altered the Blues season was one that was hardly seen at all.
It was Feb. 18, the first day back at practice during the 4 Nations Face-Off break. The Blues were eight points out of a playoff spot. Two of their best players were still playing for Canada. Thinking about the playoffs was only for the optimists.
And on the ice, the Blues got back to work. That meant an hourlong practice — about twice as long as typical in-season sessions — and battles drills to readjust the Blues to the NHL grind. Alexey Toropchenko made sure to welcome Pavel Buchnevich back to the season with a reverse hit in the corner that punctuated a back-and-forth exchange with the two Russians and ended with stick taps and smiles from everyone on the ice, Buchnevich included.
After the practice, Blues coach Jim Montgomery called it “the highlight of practice,†and he would later say on March 1 that that moment was a turning point when the Blues as a team realized “work equals fun.â€
For Buchnevich himself, the hit was an example of just how much the break helped him personally reset. He provided some perspective after the game on Tuesday night.
“You expect from me more, and you doesn’t play good, you start getting inside yourself,†Buchnevich said. “You not as positive on the ice, around the team. You try to be inside. I feel like that’s how I’ve been before the break. After the break, everybody come happy, make some jokes.
“I try to hit (Toropchenko) a couple times, doesn’t get it. Go for a third one and he hit me. I fell and probably two weeks before that, I will probably snap and do something stupid. But there is everyone laughing, and after that, bring energy and physicality. Good physicality, not to hurt guys, but good physicality in practice. People love it.
“Even lately, (associate coach Steve Ott) commented, â€کLet’s go hit Torpo.’ It’s a fun part, and enjoy it together.â€
Much like the Blues themselves, Buchnevich has rebounded since the 4 Nations break to the tune of 23 points in 22 games. Three of his four three-point games were after the break, including Tuesday’s one-goal, two-assist performance in a 6-1 win over Utah.
In the first 54 games of the season, Buchnevich had just 34 points as he struggled to find consistency on the top line alongside Robert Thomas.
“I’m talking about myself, if you struggle, you’re overthinking everything on the ice,†Buchnevich said. “You’re just thinking stuff what you shouldn’t do. After break, keep it away from your shoulder and start playing like a kid. You love the game, believe in the system and everybody pump you up on the bench, in the locker room. It’s a big help.â€
On Tuesday night, Buchnevich set up Brayden Schenn’s first-period goal by springing Jimmy Snuggerud on a breakaway. He scored on a setup by Jake Neighbours that capped a give-and-go with Buchnevich. Then, Buchnevich also assisted on Snuggerud’s goal by shooting a puck to the net-front on the power play to create a scramble.
Buchnevich’s 0.75 points per game across the entire season were his fewest since he arrived in أغر؟´«أ½ in 2021, but he also enters the postseason with six goals in the past eight games.
As for that practice hit back in February?
“I can take it,†Buchnevich said with a smile. “I can take it.â€
Suter cashes in
With the Blues qualifying for the playoffs on Tuesday, defenseman Ryan Suter earned a $500,000 bonus for playing at least 60 games and making the playoffs. It meant Suter maxed out his bonuses — also $225,000 for playing 10 games, $400,000 for playing 30 games, $500,000 for playing 40 games and $600,000 for playing 60 games — with the Blues this season.
Suter earned $775,000 in base salary and an additional $2.225 million in bonuses for $3 million total this season from أغر؟´«أ½. Suter was also being paid $1.433 million by the Stars and $833,333 by the Wild after they both bought him out of contracts.
Dvorsky down
The Blues assigned forward Dalibor Dvorsky to AHL affiliate Springfield (Massachusetts) on Wednesday afternoon, as the Thunderbirds still have two regular-season games remaining. Dvorsky played one game during this stint in the NHL, filling in on the third line April 9 in Edmonton.
Springfield has clinched a playoff berth and is currently lined up to play against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a best-of-three first-round series.
Jets, last road team to win in أغر؟´«أ½, snapped Blues win streak. Next? A first-round series.
Blues rookie Jimmy Snuggerud, right, is mobbed by teammates Robert Thomas, left, and Zack Bolduc after Snuggerud scored his first NHL goal against the Utah Hockey Club in the first period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
The story of this season’s Blues could not be told without involving the Winnipeg Jets.
Who was the team to snap the Blues’ franchise-record 12-game win streak? The Jets.
Who was the last team to beat the Blues inside Enterprise Center, as two months will elapse between that loss and a Game 3 in أغر؟´«أ½? The Jets.
Now, it’s that very same Jets team that the Blues will face in the first round of the playoffs. Winnipeg finished their season Wednesday night with the best record in the NHL, securing the Presidents’ Trophy in addition to the Central Division crown and the top seed in the Western Conference. They entered their season finale with 114 points, which was tied for the most in a season for any Jets team — all three iterations of them.
The Blues went 1-2-1 against the Jets this season, with last week’s 3-1 loss at Canada Life Centre as the most recent game between the two teams. The Jets beat the Blues 3-2 on Oct. 22, the Blues won 4-1 in Winnipeg on Dec. 3 and Winnipeg came back to win 3-2 in a shootout on Feb. 22, the first game back from the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
“You just have to get in, and there’s momentum swings throughout the playoffs,†Blues captain Brayden Schenn said after Tuesday’s playoff-clinching 6-1 win over Utah. “Just an exciting time. At the same time, everyone looks at Winnipeg and that’s the first-place team in the league. We’ve got a lot of work to do. They’re a good team. They don’t give up much.â€
The Blues witnessed that firsthand last week, when the Jets held them to a season-low 15 shots on goal, including just 12 at five on five. أغر؟´«أ½ was dominated in both shot volume (65.7% of shots at five on five belonged to Winnipeg) and shot quality (73.7% of expected goals to Winnipeg), according to Natural Stat Trick, as their win streak was snapped.
But the Blues also submitted one of their best games of the season against the Jets way back in December. It was coach Jim Montgomery’s fourth game behind the Blues bench, and he stopped that day’s morning skate to urge his team for more pace and pride on the ice.
The Blues won 4-1, boosted by a second period in which they outshot the Jets 19-3. The 16-shot difference was the biggest of the season in any period, by either the Blues or their opponent.
The Jets are led by goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who looks likely to win his second straight Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender. He entered Wednesday leading the league in wins (46), save percentage (.924) and shutouts (eight), and was second in goals against average (2.02). According to MoneyPuck, Hellebuyck has saved 37.8 goals above expected, which also leads the league.
But it’s been four years since Hellebuyck has won a playoff series, and in each of his past two postseason appearances, he’s delivered a sub-.900 save percentage. He was toasted by Colorado last year to the tune of a 5.23 GAA in five games. In 2023, he lost the last four games of the series to Vegas by allowing 18 goals in those losses.
There are 11 active goalies that have played 45 career playoff games. Hellebuyck’s .911 save percentage is ninth among them.
In front of Hellebuyck, though, the Jets actually have worse defensive numbers than the Blues in a number of categories per hour at five on five, including shot attempts, shots, expected goals and high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick.
Forward Kyle Connor had a career season with 96 points (entering Wednesday), topping 40 goals for the second time in his career. Mark Scheifele’s 86 points were also a career-high for him. Josh Morrissey’s 61 points were tied for eighth among NHL defensemen.
The Jets will be without forward Nikolaj Ehlers (63 points in 69 games) as he was announced as week-to-week on Tuesday due to a lower-body injury following a collision with an official.
“All teams are good, and we’re one of them,†Buchnevich said. “We got some streak going before, 11, 12 games in a row, make some noise in the league. I feel like some teams scared of us.â€
Schenn: “It’s going to be an exciting series, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.â€
Read the full transcript of Blues beat writer Matthew DeFranks' weekly chat
Get your questions ready and join in at 1 p.m. Wednesday for our weekly Blues chat.
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How four qualities led the Blues back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022
The Blues’ Jake Neighbours skates to Pavel Buchnevich to celebrate Buchnevich’s goal, with Neighbours providing an assist, during the first period of the regular-season finale against the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
About 11 hours before his Blues clinched a playoff spot with a 6-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday, coach Jim Montgomery delivered a succinct answer to a direct question.
From when he arrived in November until now, what were the biggest reasons why the Blues had a chance to make the postseason? He answered by saying four words: Togetherness. Sacrifice. Selfless. Love.
Those four qualities, characteristics, mantras, tenets drove the Blues through a 19-4-3 stretch to close the season after returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break. They allowed أغر؟´«أ½ to erase an eight-point deficit in the standings in one month, then secure a playoff spot one month after that. They shaped Montgomery’s pregame speech to the Blues on Tuesday night, when a regulation win would be enough to send the Blues into the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
Blues captain Brayden Schenn said “all of it†was part of Montgomery’s message to the team before taking the ice Tuesday.
“The words, we all know what they mean,†Schenn said. “The last one, when you come to the rink and you love what you do, you love your teammates, you’re family. We’re together a lot throughout the year, and when you show that you care about the guy next to you, it goes a long way.â€
The Blues exploded for four goals in the first period, scored three power-play goals overall and had seven players with multi-point nights to set up a date with league-leading Winnipeg in the first round. Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and two assists, Jordan Kyrou scored twice and Robert Thomas extended his point streak to 12 games with two assists.
Schenn, Jimmy Snuggerud and Zack Bolduc also scored while Jordan Binnington stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced.
The Blues finished the season with a 44-30-8 record, accumulating 96 points and finishing in the second (and final) wild-card spot in the Western Conference. They will open the playoffs with Game 1 in Winnipeg, though the league has not announced when the series will start.
It looked like the Blues would be heading to Vegas as Minnesota trailed Anaheim late, but the Wild scored with 20.9 seconds remaining to force overtime and secure the top wild-card spot in the West and a matchup with the Golden Knights.
The Blues handled their own business just fine.
“We got back to who we are for 60 minutes,†Montgomery said. “In the first eight minutes, I knew we were going to win just by the way we were committed to playing north and playing to the goal line. I thought our forecheck was excellent. We made them defend.â€
The win snapped a three-game losing streak that stunted the Blues’ chase for a playoff spot and clouded the shine of a franchise-record 12-game win streak that preceded it. But for so much of the past two months, things could not have been going better for the Blues.
At the 4 Nations break, the Blues were eight points behind Vancouver for the second wild-card spot. MoneyPuck put their playoff odds at 7.8%, with HockeyViz at 3.1% and The Athletic at 1.1%. In order to match Vancouver’s 94-point pace at the time, the Blues would have needed to go 19-6-1. They were being asked to play like a 123-point team, and they were asked to do so as the last team in the league to win three games in a row.
All the Blues did was play at a 129-point pace and post a plus-39 goal margin in 26 games.
“I don’t think anyone gave us a chance really, at the end of the day, where we were,†Schenn said. “I’m glad we kept it together. Too many good pieces in this locker room not to get in the playoffs. We felt if we played hard for one another, we can get the job done. It just took 82 games.â€
The potential potholes were all visible for the Blues.
Injuries to Colton Parayko (missed 19 games), Buchnevich (missed four games) and Dylan Holloway (missed the final five games of the regular season) could have derailed the Blues. Thomas even left Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury, though Montgomery said after the game that the Blues “just took him out for precautionary reasons. I think he’s fine.â€
The trade deadline, when Schenn’s name swirled in rumors, could have dismantled the group. Three games against Colorado turned into three wins over Colorado. Third-period comebacks in Nashville and against Detroit preserved the win streak. It’s led the Blues back to the playoffs for the first time in three years.
This Blues team has done exactly what general manager Doug Armstrong hoped they would do. It might have been a bit of a winding road to get there, but the Blues have accomplished the goal of returning to the playoffs while restocking their cupboards with developing young talent. The retool has officially taken a step forward, and it’s something Montgomery spotted after his first game with the Blues on Nov. 25 in New York.
“I saw how much depth of talent was here, and I thought if we can get to the right places in our habits and our game management that we would be able to do this,†Montgomery said. “But like I’ve said all along, it took longer than I expected.â€
And maybe it got there with a dose of togetherness, sacrifice, selflessness and love.
“This is what you play for, this is what you train for in the summer,†Schenn said. “This is what you play for all year, to have a chance at the Stanley Cup and just have to get in and anything can happen. We saw that years ago, and we’ve been on a good run here. At the same time, just can’t be happy that we’re in and we’re playing Winnipeg.â€
Photos: Blues clinch playoff berth with 6-1 win over Utah
أغر؟´«أ½ Blues Jake Neighbours, center right, celebrates making the playoffs with Jordan Kyrou after a 6-1 defeat of the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Young fans flex their muscles as the أغر؟´«أ½ Blues play the Utah Hockey Club in the third period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
The Blues’ Jake Neighbours skates to Pavel Buchnevich to celebrate Buchnevich’s goal, with Neighbours providing an assist, during the first period of the regular-season finale against the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Blues goalie Jordan Binnington is introduced before playing the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Blues captain Brayden Schenn, right, celebrates with Colton Parayko after Schenn scored the first goal of a game against the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Blues rookie Jimmy Snuggerud, right, is mobbed by teammates Robert Thomas, left, and Zack Bolduc after Snuggerud scored his first NHL goal against the Utah Hockey Club in the first period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Blues goalie Jordan Binnington looks for a Utah shot, getting help from Ryan Suter in the second period on Tuesday at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Blues Jordan Kyrou celebrates his second goal of the game with Pavel Buchnevich and the rest of the bench during their game against the the Utah Hockey Club in the third period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Blues Jordan Kyrou, top right, celebrates his second goal of the game with teammates Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, Jake Neighbours and Oskar Sundqvist against the the Utah Hockey Club in the third period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
The Blues’ Jimmy Snuggerud plays against the Utah Hockey Club in the first period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich moves the puck around Jack McBain of the Utah Hockey Club in the first period of the regular-season finale Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Blues captain Brayden Schenn shoots against Utah Hockey Club goalie Karel Vejmelka, deflecting off of his pad, as teammate Olli Mأ¤أ¤ttأ¤ (2) defends in the first period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Blues Jimmy Snuggerud celebrates the goal by Zack Bolduc against the Utah Hockey Club and goalie Karel Vejmelka in the first period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Blues Colton Parayko, center, and Ryan Suter, right, defend against Barrett Hayton of the Utah Hockey Club in the second period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Blues goalie Jordan Binnington blocks a shot off of his chest against the Utah Hockey Club during the second period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Blues fan Ron “Towel Man†Baechle, right, counts off five goals as the Blues make their way to a 6-1 defeat of the Utah Hockey Club, securing a playoff berth for the first time since 2022, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center. The Blues will face the Winnipeg Jets, who have home-ice advantage in the Western Conference first round series. For more, please see Page B1.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Blues Jake Neighbours, left, and Justin Faulk say goodbye to former teammate Robert Bortuzzo after a 6-1 defeat of the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
أغر؟´«أ½ Blues Jake Neighbours, right, celebrates making the playoffs with Jordan Kyrou after a 6-1 defeat of the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Hochman: With 1st NHL goal, Jimmy Snuggerud earns steak and has stake in Blues’ playoffs
أغر؟´«أ½ Blues Jimmy Snuggerud celebrates the goal by Zack Bolduc against the Utah Hockey Club and goalie Karel Vejmelka in the first period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
In his signature voice, Tom Calhoun announced to the sellout crowd: “Blues goal! His first in the National Hockey League …â€
At that moment on Tuesday, Enterprise Center sounded like 2019.
The cheers were so loud, you couldn’t really hear what was said next, though you didn’t need to.
Jimmy Snuggerud, the Blues' prize prospect, had just scored his first goal. And from a timing standpoint, it was the one of the biggest goals the whole seasonآ — it gave the Blues a huge 3-0 lead in the first period of a must-win (in regulation) game.
Next to me on press row, Post-Dispatch writer Matthew DeFranks said: “Loudest I’ve heard it all year.â€
The Blues won, 6-1, against Utah. They're back in the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
And Jimmy finally scored. In his seventh game with أغر؟´«أ½, the 20-year-old fresh out of college hockey netted his first goal, though not the traditional way.
“He probably didn't think he was going to kick his first goal — well, not kick, but have it go off his skate on the first one,†Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. “I told â€کSnuggie’ when I walked out (before the game), â€کIf we win tonight and you score a goal, I owe you a Wagyu steak.’â€
Word is they’re going to Annie Gunn’s.
Tuesday night at Enterprise Center was like a rock concertآ — say, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, since the Blues, yes, were “Takin’ Care Of Business.†Sure enough, that great Canadian band is set to play Winnipeg’s arena on Saturday, so we’ll see how that affects scheduling for the Blues’ first playoff game. Blues-Jets is happening again in the first round, just like in 2019. But it took a regulation win over Utah on Tuesday to clinch it for أغر؟´«أ½. And the hockey that أغر؟´«أ½ played in the first period was relentless and resplendent.
The Blues’ Jimmy Snuggerud plays against the Utah Hockey Club in the first period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Since the University of Minnesota season ended in the postseason tournament, Snuggerud has provided an instant jolt to the Bluesآ — and a timely one, considering the injury to breakout player and fellow forward Dylan Holloway. “Jimmy Snipes,†as they call him on the radio show TMA, has fit right in. He’s intelligent with the puck and also has some flair. In seven games he has four points.
“He's come in and done a great job for us,†veteran defenseman Cam Fowler said. “You know, that's not an easy situation when people expect a lot from you and you're just getting used to the pro game and the pro style of hockey. He's taken his lumps and worked really hard and had an amazing game for us tonightآ —آ helped us get that victory. So I'm really happy for him. You know, he's a great kid. He obviously is living with Schenn, and that's not a bad guy to learn from, too, you know?آ On and off the ice.â€
Regarding Snuggerud's first goal, Blues coach Jim Montgomery said: "I’m happy for him, genuinely happy for him. Because he's had a lot of opportunities. I'm actually surprised it took this long with the opportunities he's had, because he knows how to score. And it also was a big goal at the moment. …
“It’s such a great experience (for Snuggerud and fellow rookie Zack Bolduc) to understand the grind. And the mental grindآ — more than the physical grind that it takes to win battles, to win every foot of ice in this league in big moments. And being able to come through in big moments, it only gives them confidence. This is going to give us years of good vibes, because the experience of learning how to win, it's not easy to find that belief.â€
Blues rookie Jimmy Snuggerud, right, is mobbed by teammates Robert Thomas, left, and Zack Bolduc after Snuggerud scored his first NHL goal against the Utah Hockey Club in the first period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Robert Cohen, Post-Dispatch
Snuggerud actually almost scored earlier in the game. He had a breakaway. But his shot turned into an assist. It bounced off the goalie’s pad, right to a trailing Schenn, who scored this game’s first one.
“I knew he was a right shot,†Snuggerud said of the goalie’s stick. “So as a righty (myself), you can kind of, like, fiddle it under his stick. There's a little hole there. And I tried doing it, but just raised it a little bit. But luckily, Schenn was there for the rebound.â€
Of his first goal, Snuggerud shared: “I got the chills a little bit.†He said with a grin that his unshaven look was the start of a playoff beard. And asked how he seems like things don’t faze him, he deadpanned: “Media training.â€
And as for living with Schenn, who is the team's captain and, of course, a 2019 Stanley Cup champion, “It's kind of like a dream, honestly. Being able to have him kind of as my idol right now, just looking up to him and seeing what he does as a player, because he's such a special person, but he's even better hockey player, so I'm really fortunate. …
“And you grew up watching hockey. It's just the dream goal to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And, you know, to have this group in here to do it with, it's so special. And it should be a fun upcoming few weeks.â€
Jimmy can have his steak and eat it, too.
The Jets’ Vladislav Namestnikov (7) high-sticks the Blues’ Jimmy Snuggerud, center, in front of Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during third-period action Monday, April 7, 2025, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
