Entering the 2025-26 season, the St. Louis Blues are at a crossroads. Are they still trying to squeeze wins out of the current core, or retooling toward the next wave? The answer may lie in how they choose to deploy rookie winger Jimmy Snuggerud.
Giving Snuggerud a first-line role right out of the gate accelerates the organization's transition and signals belief in the youth movement. But would it be reckless for the Blues to put so much trust in a 21-year-old with just a handful of NHL games under his belt?
It's a fascinating debate, and one that gets right to the heart of how the Blues are trying to shape their identity for 2025-26.