Jimmy Snuggerud

Jimmy Snuggerud's first year in the NHL didn't go according to plan, and now the pressure is on for a significant bounce-back in year two. The expectations were sky-high when he arrived, and a disappointing debut has left plenty of questions about whether he can deliver on his potential. This season becomes a referendum on whether Snuggerud is a future cornerstone or just another prospect who couldn't quite make the jump.

The Wild's young star enters his second season with expectations that have skyrocketed after a promising debut, and the pressure to build on that foundation is immense. Snuggerud has the talent to meet these demands, but sophomore slumps have derailed plenty of promising careers before him. Minnesota's development of this prospect will tell us a lot about whether the organization can actually build a sustainable contender around young talent.

Every team enters the season with one guy they're quietly banking on to take a leap, and the Blues appear to have found theirs in winger Jimmy Snuggerud. The organization sees something in Snuggerud that suggests he's ready to move from prospect conversation to legitimate NHL contributor, and they're not shy about it heading into training camp. St.

The St. Louis Blues are banking on Mason McTavish to transform their forward group, but questions linger about whether the acquisition will pay dividends in a loaded Western Conference. Meanwhile, the draft class that brought McTavish to town is already being graded and dissected by scouts and front offices, with early verdicts suggesting some teams nailed their picks while others whiffed badly.