St. Louis Blues Rookie Injury Update
The St. Louis Blues announced on Monday that rookie forward Jimmy Snuggerud will undergo surgery on his left wrist, sidelining him for approximately six weeks. The 21-year-old, selected in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, had begun to make his mark this season, contributing significantly to the team’s offense before his injury.
With five goals—just two shy of leading the team—and 11 points, he ranks sixth among his teammates, while also averaging 15:26 on ice time, placing him seventh among forwards in that category.
Impact on the Team
Before his injury, Snuggerud had positioned himself as a key player within a competitive rookie class, currently sitting in eighth place for goals by first-year players. If his recovery timeline holds, fans might expect his return around mid-January, allowing him the chance to participate in roughly ten games prior to the NHL’s Olympic break, which starts after the Blues’ final match before the pause on February 4.
Additional Injury Concerns
In addition to Snuggerud’s injury, the Blues are also coping with the absence of forward Alexey Toropchenko, who is now listed as week-to-week due to serious burns he sustained at home. This unfortunate occurrence makes Toropchenko the second NHL player this season to face an injury originating from a home accident, following Florida Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen’s injury resulting from a barbecuing incident reported on November 19.
Toropchenko has tallied one goal and two points during his 17 appearances this season, averaging 11:29 on the ice. These injuries come at a challenging time for the Blues, who, despite reaching the playoffs last year, have struggled significantly in the early weeks of the current season, holding a record of 9-10-7 as of Monday. This leaves them in a tight race with five other teams, all vying for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, just two points behind the Chicago Blackhawks.
