Names To Know: Jimmy Snuggerud's Shot Is An Impressive Asset, But Is It Enough To Tempt The Blue Jackets?

Welcome to the 20th installment of 'Names To Know', a look-ahead at prospects who the Columbus Blue Jackets could select in the upcoming NHL Draft.

The Blue Jackets have two first-round draft picks—No. 6 and No. 12–providing general manager Jarmo Kekalainen the opportunity of shaping his team for the future as they look to get closer to contention status and being a formidable playoff threat.

Since the Blue Jackets have two first-round picks and many ways to go in a wide-open draft, we've covered quite a few names to this point, with each player providing an interesting case for selecting them.

Jimmy Snuggerud comes from Minnesota hockey royalty.

Per Elite Prospects, his grandfather, James Westby, played for the University of Minnesota before representing the United States in the 1964 Winter Olympics. Jimmy's father, Dave, was also a member of the Golden Gophers before playing 265 regular-season games in the NHL. So it's no surprise that Jimmy is also committed to the University of Minnesota this upcoming season.

The right-winger's calling card is his shot, which he can use to beat goalies clean. And at 6'1", 185 lbs, he has prototypical NHL size. The combination of the two makes him almost a surefire first-round pick, even if the skating leaves something to be desired.

The Athletic's Corey Pronman ranked Snuggerud 27th overall in his most recent big board, comparing him to Tanner Pearson and projecting him as a middle-of-the-lineup player. Here's his analysis on the winger:

Analysis: Snuggerud’s a talented winger who can be dangerous with the puck on his stick. He has one-on-one skill, good vision, and his best asset is his shot. He is a long-range shooting threat with a one-timer you can build a power-play unit around. Snuggerud has good size, competes well and is responsible defensively. The only issue is he has heavy feet which could impede him as he advances levels. The rest of his game is strong enough though that I think he could be a top-nine forward.

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Pronman, who drafted Snuggerud with the 23rd overall pick in his May mock draft, said that his "draft slot has been tough to nail down, as I’ve heard some sources say he could go well into the teens, but others view him more as a 20s type of pick."

Snuggerud finished sixth on the U18 USA NTDP team in scoring, tallying 24-39-63 in 59 games in a top-six capacity.

Snuggerud has some interesting assets, but I do wonder if his position (winger) works against him. While teams are certainly in the market for his type of game, with a powerful shot, solid two-way game, and good size, wingers are easier to find in free agency/via trade than premium centers and defensemen. But perhaps if the Blue Jackets get 'their guy' at #6, an argument could be made that Snuggerud is a good fit at #12.