St. Louis Blues News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Dean ready to prove Blues made right investment

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Blues
By Lou Korac | Last updated 7/12/23

Zach Dean was as anxious as anyone to make a good first impression on his new employers.

The first-round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021 was traded to the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 26 for Ivan Barbashev, one going to a franchise to make a Stanley Cup run, which Vegas did, the other, a prospect the acquiring team hopes he pans out in the future.

So one can understand when Dean, who was in town for Blues prospect camp July 1-4, shared his frustrations when he couldn't get on the ice for the first couple days. Not because of an injury however.

"Honestly, my equipment was still in Ottawa the whole time," Dean said third day. "At the start, we really didn't know where it was and then I was just working out. But now (I have) all new equipment. These skates aren't even mine. It was a tough one out there, but still lots of fun to get out there.

"It sucks when you see the guys out there, they're practicing and they're playing those couple games, but I was working out. It was good to get down too. I haven't been down here before so to meet everyone and put a name to a face. In the end, you can only look to the positive side of that, but I was happy to get out there and play the game."

Dean, 20, took part in on-ice workouts and ensuing scrimmage finally. But not without some challenges. He didn't have his full gear until the final day, which finally arrived in time from Chicago. The center had to borrow a pair of skates, and finally on the fourth pair, he felt comfortable enough to take part with fellow prospects ready to finally turn the page on his past and look forward to his new future.

"I was trying them because they're molded to some other guys' feet and stuff like that," Dean explained. "It was tough trying to pick a pair, but these ones were the best ones."

Vegas paid a good price to acquire Barbashev, who helped the Golden Knights win their first-ever Stanley Cup this past season and made it all worth it from their perspective.

For Dean, he comes with solid credentials. The Blues, who knew they couldn't keep pending free agent Barbashev, are banking on Dean building off his solid junior numbers.

"When that happened, I can remember it was early morning when the trade was made," Dean said. "We actually had an early game, I got the call and I was pretty much walking out the door for our game. There wasn't too much time to think about it there, but after, it hit me and I think it's a really good opportunity. When it happened, I was really looking forward to getting down to St. Louis.

"I know that's part of hockey. I didn't really put too much thought into that side of it, but I was just excited I was coming to St. Louis and now that I'm finally here, I get to see the facilities, meet everyone. Everyone's really nice and I'm really excited to get started."

Dean has spent the past four seasons playing in the QMJHL for the Gatineau Olympiques; he had 70 points (33 goals, 37 assists) in 50 regular-season games before really taking off in the playoffs, putting up 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 13 games before falling to fellow Blues prospect Zachary Bolduc and the Quebec Ramparts.

"I think my year was pretty good," Dean said. "It was a pretty long year with the World Juniors and everything like that, not a lot of breaks. Overall, I thought it was a really good year for myself and for our team. It was too bad we couldn't get past 'Boldy' and them in the semi's, but they had a really good team, but overall, it was a really good year for me.

"We chatted a bit. I congratulated [Bolduc]. That's pretty cool to win the league and then go on to win the Memorial Cup."

Now the two of them can grow together for the same organization.

"I'm real happy that he joined our team," Bolduc said. "He's a really good guy. I played against him a lot when I was in junior. I know him a little bit. It's fun to be here together. We're at the same level of our careers so it's fun to do that together."

As impressed as the Blues were with Bolduc, they were equally as impressed with Dean.

"He's just a good, solid two-way forward," Blues director of player development Tim Taylot said. "I went and watched that series, Gatineau against Quebec and Bolduc and it was a heck of a series. It was four games and every game could have went either way. The bounces went in Quebec's way in all four games, but Zach Dean was a very prominent player. He was on the ice in every different situation for Gatineau. He was a leader for that team. He won the scoring chanpionship for the Quebec league after only playing three rounds. He was just a dominant player. Every time he was on the ice, something happened. Whether he scored a goal or not, he made plays. He's a little more tenacious and heavier than Doug Gilmour, but he has those attributes of being that guy that leads both ways."

Dean, known as a player who plays with power, skill and terrific passer while his skating is top notch, couldn't help but watch Vegas' run this past season. It's only natural to want to be part of the franchise that drafted you, but now that his career has taken another turn, Dean is eager to put his best foot forward with the Blues.

"It's Stanley Cup playoff hockey and I was following, but in the end, it doesn't really matter to me. I was just watching because it's hockey," Dean said. "It's really exciting here. I think that's the one word I can describe it. I'm just excited to be here, go back, have a good rest of summer and then come down here and train again hard the last month before the start of camp."

Dean's junior hockey days are over; he will turn pro for the upcoming season, likely in Springfield of the American Hockey League.

"Obviously that's in your mind throughout this summer," Dean said. "It's just have a good summer on and off the ice. I think I'm going to come back down (in the) middle of August before training camp. That would really help me out. I'm just looking forward to having a good summer."

This article first appeared on FanNation Inside The Blues and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: