Joe Snively: 2022 Prospect Review And Forecast

Posted on May 28, 2022 by Jon Sorensen


Next up in our annual prospect review and forecast series is Joe Snively, forward for the Hershey Bears and Washington Capitals. (You can access all of our Capitals Prospect Reports and player analysis on our “Prospects” page or right here.)

VITALS

Snively is a 26-year-old left-handed winger who played for Yale prior to graduating in the spring of 2019. The Herndon, Virginia native was never drafted but signed a two-year contract with the Capsitals in 2019 for $925,000 per year on March 18, 2019. The Capitals re-signed Snively to a one-year, two-way contract extension on June 3, 2021 and re-signed him to a two-year deal on March 16, 2022. He will be a restricted free agent in 2024-25.

CAREER SUMMARY

Snively played three seasons (2012-15) for the Sioux City Muskateers in the United States Hockey League (USHL), improving in goals and assists each season.

Snively then played four seasons at Yale University. During the 2015-16 season, he scored 10 goals and had 18 assists and was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year. During the 2016-17 season, Snively scored 14 goals and had 25 assists. He received Honorable Mention in each of his first two seasons as Yale.

During his junior year, 2017-18, he scored 19 goals, had 17 assists and was First Team All-Ivy Selection and a Second Team All-ECAC Selection. During the 2018-19 season, his senior year, he scored 15 goals and had 21 assists. He was a Hobey Baker Award nomination and was also a First Team All-ECAC, First Team All-Ivy, and First-Team All-New England selections.

After signing with the Capitals, Snively signed a Player Tryout (PTO) Contract with the Hershey Bears after his college season was over. Snively played in nine games for the Bears near the end of the 2018-19 season and, in his short time there, scored two goals and had 5 assists.

The 2019-2020 season was a breakout season for Snively. He would record 12 goals and 12 assists in just 45 games played, finishing with a shooting percentage of 15.0% for the season. He also recorded his first professional hat trick on February 25th against the defending champion Charlotte Checkers. Snively finished the abbreviated season first in goals and second in points among all Bears rookies. He had 14 goals and 17 assists in just 54 AHL games.

The 2020-21 season was relatively quiet for Snively. He recorded six goals and 11 assists in 30 games played, which is not bad, but there was no significant step forward during the abbreviated season, which is understandable, considering the pandemic.

Snively’s 2021-22 season was indeed his break-out campaign. After a relatively quiet first month of the season, Snively caught fire in November recording 14 points. Snively continued his excellent play until he was recalled by the Capitals at the end of January. He would not return to the Bears the rest of the season, however, his body of work through January was enough to be awarded team co-MVP. Snively scored four goals and three assists in just 12 games with the Capitals but unfortunately suffered a wrist injury at the beginning of March, which ended his season.

2021-2022 MONTH-BY-MONTH RECAP AND TREND ANALYSIS

The following is a compilation of our month-by-month prospect reports for Joe Snively during the 2021-2022 season. You can find all of our monthly prospect reports on our “Prospects” page in the top menu.

OCTOBER
The Herndon, Virginia native kickstarted his season by assisting on the first two Hershey goals. However, Snively only had a single helper in his next six games. He has taken 20 shots, tied for the second most of the team, but has not converted any of his shots. Snively has played on the top two lines and has seen power play time. He needs to contribute more offensively in this role. Snively has been a responsible player in his own and has not been a minus player in any game.

TRENDING: SAME

NOVEMBER
After compiling three assists in October, Snively was on fire in November. The Yale University product amassed 14 points in November. He did not register a point in the first two games of the month, but tallied a hat trick against Springfield on November 7.

The second goal of his hat trick was the game-winner with 3:09 remaining in the third period.

His third goal of the game would come on an empty netter to seal the victory for the Bears.

Snively potted two more goals in a 5-4 shootout win over Syracuse. He also added an assist for his second three-point game of the month. Two games later Snively would score two more goals against the Syracuse Crunch on November 13.

Snively’s second goal against the Crunch.

Snively would record another three-point game versus Charlotte on November 21. He had the secondary helper on Matt Moulson’s second period power play tally.

Snively put the chocolate and white ahead early in the third with a power play marker and then assisted on Mike Sgarbossa’s empty net goal and then finished off the month with a pair of two-point games. This included a shorthanded goal against Providence on November 24.

Snively leads Hershey with 10 assists and 17 points. He is also tied for second on the team with seven goals. His two game-winning goals is tied for the team lead. Snively also has the best plus/minus rating on the team with a plus 10.

TRENDING: UP

DECEMBER
Snively recorded a point in six of the seven games he played in December. After scoring seven goals in November, Snively only found the back of the net once. However, the winger dished out six assists in the month.

He assisted on both goals in a 2-0 win at Springfield on December 17, including the primary helper on Mike Vecchione’s game winner. Since November 7, Snively has recorded a point in 12 of the 15 games he has played. He has totaled 21 points in that span.

The Yale University product leads the team in scoring with 24 points and in assists with 16. He is tied for seventh in the AHL in assists. Snively is also tied for the team lead in goals with eight and in power play goals with three. He also leads the team in plus/minus with a plus 15 rating.

The Virginian made his NHL debut for the Capitals on December 19 and recorded his first career NHL point when he assisted on Connor McMichael’s first period marker.

TRENDING: UP

JANUARY
January was another strong month for Snively. He recorded a point in 10 of the 11 games he played. Snively amassed 14 points in the month, split evenly with seven goals and seven assists. The winger posted a two-goal game against Lehigh Valley on January 5. He opened the scoring 17 seconds into the game when a one-timer, beating Lehigh Valley goalie Pat Nagle.

Then, after Hershey blew a 3-0 lead, Snively knocked in a loose puck for the overtime winner.

Snively recorded his 11th goal of the season on January 12 again at the Bridgeport Islanders.

He recorded a three-point game on January 22 versus Hartford. Snively then added an empty net, shorthanded tally to seal the win.

Snively leads the Bears in goals with 15, shorthanded goals with three, assists with 23, power play points with 11 and points with 38. He is also a team best plus 22 for the season. The Virginian is tied for fifth in the AHL in scoring and is in a tie for seventh in the league in assists. He is also tied for second in the AHL in shorthanded goals.

In his final game of the month on January 25, Snively weaved some shorthanded magic against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. With the Bears up 3-2, Snively stole the puck from Felix Robert on the left wing. The Yale University alum burst into the offensive zone on a breakaway. He beat Penguin netminder through the five-hole to give Hershey an insurance goal.

Snively is currently in the midst of a 14-game home scoring streak, tied with Alexandre Giroux for the longest on record at the Giant Center.

TRENDING: UP

FEBRUARY
Snively was officially placed on injured reserve on March 3. The Capitals announced on March 6 that Snively underwent successful surgery to his left wrist. He will be out four-to-six weeks.

Snively was re-signed by the Capitals for a two-year, $1.6 million contract, on March 16. The contract will carry an average annual value of $800,000.

TRENDING: UP

MARCH
Snively was officially placed on injured reserve on March 3. The Capitals announced on March 6 that Snively underwent successful surgery to his left wrist. He will be out four-to-six weeks.

Snively was re-signed by the Capitals for a two-year, $1.6 million contract, on March 16. The contract will carry an average annual value of $800,000.

TRENDING: UP

APRIL
Snively last skated in a game for the Bears on January 25. Hershey really missed his offense. The chocolate and white were shut out seven times after he was recalled to the Washington Capitals.

The Yale University product scored a point in 22 of his last 26 games with the Bears. Starting on November 7, he did not go more than a game without registering a point.

Snively recorded a point in his last 14 home games, tying Alexandre Giroux for the longest home point streak on record. At the time of his recall, he was the team leader in most offensive categories. He was not surpassed as the points leader until March. Snively still finished third on the team in scoring with 38 points. He amassed those points in just 35 games, making Snively the only Bear to average more than a point per game.

The Herndon, Virginia native’s 15 goals were the fourth most on the Hershey roster, as were his 23 assists. Snively was named a co-recipient of the PNC Team Player of the Year Award.

TRENDING: SAME

PLAYER FORECAST

Snively will be a huge wild card when the Capitals training camp begins in September. He was playing really well, scoring and fitting in very well in the lineup, both offensively and defensively, when he injured his wrist. The whole season was essentially a hot streak for Snively, both in Hershey and in Washington. Will he pick up where he left off?

If Snively continues the level of play he demonstrated just prior to his injury, it’s very likely he will get a Capitals roster spot to begin the season. There will be competition for several spots, but there will be just as many prospects fighting for those spots. Look for Snively to get at least a long look at the 13th forward position.

By Jon Sorensen

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About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
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2 Responses to Joe Snively: 2022 Prospect Review And Forecast

  1. Anonymous says:
    May 28, 2022 at 6:22 pm

    There will be some open spots for the farm hands to prove themselves….
    BAcky? Willie out til Jan… D openings…

    Reply

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