Jimmy Snuggerud's rookie season with the St. Louis Blues is drawing to a close, and the young forward has earned high praise from his coach. After a morning skate ahead of a matchup with the Minnesota Wild, Blues bench boss Jim Montgomery gave Snuggerud a solid "B-plus" for his inaugural NHL campaign.

The 21-year-old from Chaska, a former University of Minnesota standout, has made an immediate impact, entering a recent game tied for third on the team with 18 goals. His strong play was recognized league-wide when he was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for March.

Montgomery acknowledged the typical adjustment period for any player jumping to the pros, noting Snuggerud had "sporadic moments" early on before finding consistent form after Christmas. Now a fixture on the top line with Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway, Snuggerud is applying the high-end skill that made him a star with the Gophers, where he won Big Ten titles and reached an NCAA championship game.

Looking across the ice, Montgomery sees a perfect development model for his young forward in Minnesota's Matt Boldy. The Blues' coach highlighted how Boldy evolved from an offensive talent into a complete, two-way player for the Wild. "Ideally for us, if he can come close to Boldy... every year he adds something to his game," Montgomery said, expressing a desire for Snuggerud to follow that same "Boldy blueprint."

For Snuggerud, the biggest lesson of his first full season has been about the professional grind. "It’s hard. You have to eat right and sleep right," he said, emphasizing the importance of recovery during an 82-game schedule that includes grueling travel. As he continues to learn and adapt, the future looks bright for the Blues' 2022 first-round pick, with a clear path charted for his growth into an NHL mainstay.