Top prospect Jimmy Snuggerud to return to college hockey next season

First-round draft pick Jimmy Snuggerud will not try to make the jump to the NHL next year. Instead, he play his third season with the Minnesota Gophers of the Big 10.

Snuggerud was drafted 23rd overall by the St. Louis Blues in 2022. many have been wondering whether he would make the jump to the NHL or return to Minnesota. Snuggerud and Blues GM Doug Armstrong have now announced his official decision, which has the full backing of th team.





The Gophers, for obvious reasons, are pretty pumped about the announcement.



Over the past two seasons with the University of Minnesota, Snuggerud has played 79 games, scoring 42 goals and 84 points. He also played a big role in Team USA's gold-medal winning performance at the 2024 World Juniors, with 5 goals and 8 points in 6 games.

Hockey runs deep in the family for Jimmy Snuggerud. His father Dave, who also played for the University of Minnesota, partipated in 265 games in the NHL, most of them for the Buffalo Sabres. His grandfather, James Westby, played for Team USA at the World Hockey Championships back in the 1950s.