Blues Place Zach Dean On Waivers

This afternoon the St. Louis Blues waived forward Zach Dean, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported.

The 23-year-old beat out the likes of Oskar Sundqvist and Nathan Walker to make the roster out of camp, getting into three games. He has since been scratched over action across the past week, as Aleksanteri Kaskimaki made his season debut on the fourth line in their last contest. Dean was originally selected in the first round by Vegas five years ago, 30th overall. At perhaps the height of his trade value as a promising QMJHL scorer, the prospect was moved to the Blues in a February 2023 deal for Ivan Barbashev in a 1-1 swap.

At the time, Dean had two-way top-nine potential with parallels to Barbashev’s game itself. The Golden Knights continued way of dealing away prospects was met with skepticism, but it’s safe to say they came out ahead in the trade. Immediately making a huge impact on the way to a Stanley Cup, his second, Barbashev re-signed in Vegas and remains an integral top-six threat while Dean’s development hasn’t reached such a level.

Coming away with 14 points in his first 49 AHL games with the Springfield Thunderbirds, Dean earned a late season call-up in March 2024, debuting against Ottawa. In that nine game stint he came away scoreless, returning to Springfield the following season. The Alberta native only managed 11 games two seasons ago dealing with multiple injuries. Unable to consistently hold down a top-six role in the AHL due to his health, Dean also entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program early last year, being cleared last January. In last spring’s Calder Cup playoffs he netted an overtime game winner as the Thunderbirds shocked the AHL by taking down the top ranked Providence Bruins four games to one.

Based on what he has gone through, it was impressive for Dean to make the team this fall over much more experienced veterans, as a result of his valued two-way game and energy. Still seeking his first NHL point after 12 games scoreless, the 6’0″ center will look to bring more offense to the table in the AHL and vie for another call-up, as long as he clears waivers. The lefty will be a restricted free agent at season’s end.