Statement Week for Snuggerud as the Blues Pipeline Pushes Forward

The Blues’ prospect pool delivered one of its most balanced weeks of the season where high‑end talent produced, depth players chipped in, and several young pros continued to carve out meaningful roles. It wasn’t a week defined by one league or one storyline. Instead, it was a system‑wide snapshot of progress, identity, and momentum.

Let’s run through the standouts.

Jimmy Snuggerud 

3 GP • 2 G • 3 A • 5 PTS • +3 • 9 SOG

Snuggerud didn’t just lead the Blues system in scoring, instead he was a driving factor in legit competition NHL games. His confidence with the puck has taken a noticeable jump, and the “shoot more” mentality is no longer a suggestion. It’s a defining trait.

• vs CBJ: 1G, 1A — set the tone early

• vs FLA: 1A, 5 SOG — aggressive, assertive, dangerous

• vs DAL: 2A, +3 — playmaking on full display

This is the most complete three‑game stretch of his young NHL career. He’s not just keeping up but a competitor influencing outcomes.

Justin Carbonneau 

2 GP • 3 G • 0 A • 3 PTS • +3 • 11 SOG

Carbonneau put together a goal‑scoring heater in the QMJHL, burying three goals in two games and generating double‑digit shot volume. His game is trending toward a more direct, north‑south style and it’s paying off. He’s now got a five-game goal streak going heading into the coming week. 

Tomas Mrsic 

2 GP • 3 G • 0 A • 3 PTS • +1 • 12 SOG

This was a welcomed performance this past week from the former WHL-standout. Mrsic was a force against Arizona State, scoring in both games and driving play with pace and pressure. His shot generation was elite this week, and he’s emerging as one of the most consistent NCAA forwards in the system.

Lukas Fischer

3 GP • 1 G • 2 A • 3 PTS • +1

Fischer continues to stack strong weeks as the young blueliner and the Soo Greyhounds push for a postseason spot. His reads are improving, his puck movement is crisp, and he’s finding ways to contribute offensively without sacrificing structure. He’s quietly building a very solid season and looking at a career-year point pace. 

Matthew Mayich

2 GP • 1 G • 1 A • 2 PTS • 6 PIM

Mayich’s performance against Quinnipiac was one of his best of the year. He was physical, assertive, and productive. The Princeton game was tougher, but the overall takeaway is positive: he’s playing with more confidence and bite.

Dalibor Dvorský 

3 GP • 0 G • 2 A • 2 PTS • +2

Dvorský didn’t score this week, but he looked increasingly comfortable. His assist vs Columbus was a smart, composed play, and his game against Dallas was his most complete showing a strong presence on the puck, responsible defensively, and confident in transition. While he won’t win a Rookie of the Year award, the Blues have to feel great bout the progress of this young man. 

Adam Jiříček 

2 GP • 0 G • 2 A • 2 PTS • 7 SOG

Jiříček’s shot volume is the headline. He’s jumping into plays more often and showing the offensive instincts that made him a high pick. His two‑assist night vs Owen Sound was a standout performance for the week. 

Otto Stenberg 

3 GP • 0 G • 2 A • 2 PTS • +3

Recently reassigned to the Springfield Thunderbirds, Stenberg’s game is rounding out nicely. He’s winning races, making plays under pressure, and showing more confidence with the puck. His two‑assist outing vs Hartford was one of his best AHL game to date. Don’t think the Swede will be in the AHL much beyond the NHL resumes play post-Olympic break. 

Other Notable Contributors

• Marc-André Gaudet: 2 GP, 1 G — continues to flash offense

• Juraj Pekarčík: 3 GP, 1 G — finishes the week strong

• Hunter Skinner: 2 GP, 1 G — physical, steady

• Nikita Susuyev: 2 GP, 1 G — depth scoring in Worcester

• Quinton Burns: 3 GP, 1 A — reliable minutes

• Aleksanteri Kaskimäki: 3 GP, 1 A — encouraging shot volume

• William McIsaac: 2 GP, 1 A — strong puck movement

Quieter Weeks, but Valuable Minutes

Not every week is a scoring week, but these players logged meaningful usage. Buchinger, Dean, Fyodorov, Koromyslov, Korotky, Lindstein, Lööf, Peterson, Ralph, Stancl, Vorobyov. Several of them, especially Koromyslov and Korotky in the KHL, played heavy minutes despite limited production.

Goaltending

Love Härenstam — HockeyAllsvenskan

2 GP • .918 SV% • 124:12 TOI

A .960 performance vs Mora highlighted one of his best weeks of the season.

Vadim Zherenko — AHL

1 GP • .955 SV%

Rock‑solid in his lone start, continuing a strong stretch of play. The play from the Thunderbirds in general seems to have really taken a turn under new head coach Steve Ott. 

Will Cranley — ECHL

1 GP • .800 SV%

A difficult outing, but he battled through it.

Final Thoughts

This was a week defined by balance. Snuggerud delivered a statement stretch at the NHL level. Mrsic showed real signs of life for the first time in the NCAA while Carbonneau showed why the Blues selected him so highly in the NHL.. Fischer and Jiříček continued their steady climbs. And the goaltending pipeline produced two standout performances.

It wasn’t a flashy week and more of a foundational one. The kind of week that shows a system moving in the right direction.