Snuggy interview with JR

[kimzey59]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/655546 ... ng-weight/

Biggest takeaway: Snuggy's up to 197 lbs right now.

[STL fan in MN]

Yep, glad he was able to pack in the calories and add some weight. My guess is he’ll maybe add another 10 lbs before he finally settles into his final playing weight in a couple more years.

This Q&A was the main one I took from it:

You had to be happy with the way everything unfolded coming to the Blues, including the playoffs. What did you like about the 14 games, and where did you feel you need improvement?

The 14 games were such a good experience, and being there at the end of the year was huge for me. I’d say for the improvement, there were a few things. I feel like the biggest difference from college to the NHL is, No. 1, the rim play, and No. 2, net-drive. Then I’d say there’s a size factor, too. I was only 185 pounds at the end of the year. It was a physical playoff series, and you quickly realize that you can’t lay the body around like you want to. So those three things were super important for me to work on this summer: wall play, net-drive and size.

Board work is extremely important in the NHL, especially for a winger, so I’m glad to hear he noticed how important it is and has been focusing on it. And the added 11-12 lbs will really help with that too.

[seattleblue]

Yep, glad he was able to pack in the calories and add some weight. My guess is he’ll maybe add another 10 lbs before he finally settles into his final playing weight in a couple more years.

This Q&A was the main one I took from it:

You had to be happy with the way everything unfolded coming to the Blues, including the playoffs. What did you like about the 14 games, and where did you feel you need improvement?

The 14 games were such a good experience, and being there at the end of the year was huge for me. I’d say for the improvement, there were a few things. I feel like the biggest difference from college to the NHL is, No. 1, the rim play, and No. 2, net-drive. Then I’d say there’s a size factor, too. I was only 185 pounds at the end of the year. It was a physical playoff series, and you quickly realize that you can’t lay the body around like you want to. So those three things were super important for me to work on this summer: wall play, net-drive and size.

Board work is extremely important in the NHL, especially for a winger, so I’m glad to hear he noticed how important it is and has been focusing on it. And the added 11-12 lbs will really help with that too.

One thing that's always stuck with me about him is his US teammates naming him as the underrated player among them. It was for his understanding of hockey and adjustments typified by this answer. I trust this aspect in the Snuggler more than I trusted it in Bolduc.

[dhsux]

Exciting times for so many of our Blues players.

I am most fascinated with the Mailloux signing/outcome but man there is so much and so many to cheer for this coming year in Saint Louis and Springfield......it really is something.

[John Cocktoastin]

Yep, glad he was able to pack in the calories and add some weight. My guess is he’ll maybe add another 10 lbs before he finally settles into his final playing weight in a couple more years.

This Q&A was the main one I took from it:

You had to be happy with the way everything unfolded coming to the Blues, including the playoffs. What did you like about the 14 games, and where did you feel you need improvement?

The 14 games were such a good experience, and being there at the end of the year was huge for me. I’d say for the improvement, there were a few things. I feel like the biggest difference from college to the NHL is, No. 1, the rim play, and No. 2, net-drive. Then I’d say there’s a size factor, too. I was only 185 pounds at the end of the year. It was a physical playoff series, and you quickly realize that you can’t lay the body around like you want to. So those three things were super important for me to work on this summer: wall play, net-drive and size.

Board work is extremely important in the NHL, especially for a winger, so I’m glad to hear he noticed how important it is and has been focusing on it. And the added 11-12 lbs will really help with that too.

Excellent point. Hate seeing a skilled player being moved off a puck with a shove, a bump, a sneeze.

Reading into this further, not only is he aware of the benefits of physicality, but he's just that - aware. He is a fast learner. He is getting a feel of what it takes to win in this league. That post-NCAA exposure was brief, but invaluable. Especially the playoff experience. And he wants to get better.

Thanks to all for the peek in this article.

[zamadoo]

Wow this is music to my ears.

People on this board like to say that I (and others) want everyone to be a grinder, but I am just emphasizing the finer points of the game that become even more important in the playoffs - and Snuggerudd did well at them (better than Kyrou) in his 14 game NHL debut, including the playoffs.

To hear he's even decided to focus on getting better at that stuff.... Well Army, sign him to a Nazar contract

[theograce]

Not as much to figure out as a winger. Easiest gig in the NHL.

[SameOldBlues]

I dig it. Wish/hope more of our core prospects get a little advanced taste if the NHL to better prepare em for their first full seasons.

[Harry York 37]

Hits along the boards during play are so very different than those in contact football.
The angles and the speeds are much different. Hits from behind are not all illegal and everyone has a five foot long pike in their hands.
No one tiptoes out of bounds… they get pasted to a wall.
You can skate a hell of a lot faster than you can run.
Playing wing in hockey is:
Where is the puck and what is its vector?
Who are the challengers and what are their vectors?
Where are my teammates and what are their vectors?
Where are the boards?
Where are the blue lines ( sometimes the red line)?
How tired am I and/or my linemates?

“Once more into the breech!”

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

Jimmy likes hockey
Jimmy likes playing for the Blues
Jimmy will be a good player for many years

[a smell of green grass]

He likes walleye fishing! This reflects great character and intelligence.

[STL fan in MN]

Yep, glad he was able to pack in the calories and add some weight. My guess is he’ll maybe add another 10 lbs before he finally settles into his final playing weight in a couple more years.

This Q&A was the main one I took from it:

You had to be happy with the way everything unfolded coming to the Blues, including the playoffs. What did you like about the 14 games, and where did you feel you need improvement?

The 14 games were such a good experience, and being there at the end of the year was huge for me. I’d say for the improvement, there were a few things. I feel like the biggest difference from college to the NHL is, No. 1, the rim play, and No. 2, net-drive. Then I’d say there’s a size factor, too. I was only 185 pounds at the end of the year. It was a physical playoff series, and you quickly realize that you can’t lay the body around like you want to. So those three things were super important for me to work on this summer: wall play, net-drive and size.

Board work is extremely important in the NHL, especially for a winger, so I’m glad to hear he noticed how important it is and has been focusing on it. And the added 11-12 lbs will really help with that too.

Excellent point. Hate seeing a skilled player being moved off a puck with a shove, a bump, a sneeze.

Reading into this further, not only is he aware of the benefits of physicality, but he's just that - aware. He is a fast learner. He is getting a feel of what it takes to win in this league. That post-NCAA exposure was brief, but invaluable. Especially the playoff experience. And he wants to get better.

Thanks to all for the peek in this article.

To me, the most impressive part about him working on board work isn’t that he put on 11-12 lbs to better withstand with hits along the boards, it’s that he’s focusing on rim play. A winger is responsible for the rims along the boards from the d-men. It can sometimes look easy but it’s not. Making a read to try to skate with the puck, chip it past the d-man, angle it to your center man, go backwards with it to evade a pinching d-man and then spinning and firing a pass to an open man. The breakout lives or dies on the rim play of the wingers. It’s one of the main reasons Texier doesn’t play much IMO. I think it’s very impressive that that’s y the first thing Snuggy noticed in terms of the difference between college hockey and the NHL, recognizes the importance, and is working on it.

[theograce]

Yep, glad he was able to pack in the calories and add some weight. My guess is he’ll maybe add another 10 lbs before he finally settles into his final playing weight in a couple more years.

This Q&A was the main one I took from it:

You had to be happy with the way everything unfolded coming to the Blues, including the playoffs. What did you like about the 14 games, and where did you feel you need improvement?

The 14 games were such a good experience, and being there at the end of the year was huge for me. I’d say for the improvement, there were a few things. I feel like the biggest difference from college to the NHL is, No. 1, the rim play, and No. 2, net-drive. Then I’d say there’s a size factor, too. I was only 185 pounds at the end of the year. It was a physical playoff series, and you quickly realize that you can’t lay the body around like you want to. So those three things were super important for me to work on this summer: wall play, net-drive and size.

Board work is extremely important in the NHL, especially for a winger, so I’m glad to hear he noticed how important it is and has been focusing on it. And the added 11-12 lbs will really help with that too.

Excellent point. Hate seeing a skilled player being moved off a puck with a shove, a bump, a sneeze.

Reading into this further, not only is he aware of the benefits of physicality, but he's just that - aware. He is a fast learner. He is getting a feel of what it takes to win in this league. That post-NCAA exposure was brief, but invaluable. Especially the playoff experience. And he wants to get better.

Thanks to all for the peek in this article.

To me, the most impressive part about him working on board work isn’t that he put on 11-12 lbs to better withstand with hits along the boards, it’s that he’s focusing on rim play. A winger is responsible for the rims along the boards from the d-men. It can sometimes look easy but it’s not. Making a read to try to skate with the puck, chip it past the d-man, angle it to your center man, go backwards with it to evade a pinching d-man and then spinning and firing a pass to an open man. The breakout lives or dies on the rim play of the wingers. It’s one of the main reasons Texier doesn’t play much IMO. I think it’s very impressive that that’s y the first thing Snuggy noticed in terms of the difference between college hockey and the NHL, recognizes the importance, and is working on it.

What impressed me most is how impressed Monty must have been. Ice time is the true currency in playoffs and he got tons for a guy in his situation

[Harry York 37]

Yep, glad he was able to pack in the calories and add some weight. My guess is he’ll maybe add another 10 lbs before he finally settles into his final playing weight in a couple more years.

This Q&A was the main one I took from it:

You had to be happy with the way everything unfolded coming to the Blues, including the playoffs. What did you like about the 14 games, and where did you feel you need improvement?

The 14 games were such a good experience, and being there at the end of the year was huge for me. I’d say for the improvement, there were a few things. I feel like the biggest difference from college to the NHL is, No. 1, the rim play, and No. 2, net-drive. Then I’d say there’s a size factor, too. I was only 185 pounds at the end of the year. It was a physical playoff series, and you quickly realize that you can’t lay the body around like you want to. So those three things were super important for me to work on this summer: wall play, net-drive and size.

Board work is extremely important in the NHL, especially for a winger, so I’m glad to hear he noticed how important it is and has been focusing on it. And the added 11-12 lbs will really help with that too.

Excellent point. Hate seeing a skilled player being moved off a puck with a shove, a bump, a sneeze.

Reading into this further, not only is he aware of the benefits of physicality, but he's just that - aware. He is a fast learner. He is getting a feel of what it takes to win in this league. That post-NCAA exposure was brief, but invaluable. Especially the playoff experience. And he wants to get better.

Thanks to all for the peek in this article.

To me, the most impressive part about him working on board work isn’t that he put on 11-12 lbs to better withstand with hits along the boards, it’s that he’s focusing on rim play. A winger is responsible for the rims along the boards from the d-men. It can sometimes look easy but it’s not. Making a read to try to skate with the puck, chip it past the d-man, angle it to your center man, go backwards with it to evade a pinching d-man and then spinning and firing a pass to an open man. The breakout lives or dies on the rim play of the wingers. It’s one of the main reasons Texier doesn’t play much IMO. I think it’s very impressive that that’s y the first thing Snuggy noticed in terms of the difference between college hockey and the NHL, recognizes the importance, and is working on it.

This is exactly what we saw Bolduc struggle with at the beginning of last season. Because of the glut of new and promising faces, he got scratched a lot during that time. It was encouraging to see his progress as he season moved along. I did see a lot of growth from Bolduc in that area and called him the poster child of learning while being scratched.
When the puck is rimmed around your corner, you have an instant to make the correct decision. And, likely get hammered if the right play needs your sacrifice.