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St. Louis Blues First Rounder Walks Away From Team, Enters NHL Player Assistance Program

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated Sep 10, 2025 5:10 PM ET

Zach Dean was a first-round pick of the Golden Knights in 2021, but now the 22-year old Blues prospect has entered the Player Assistance Program.

Given the amount of time hockey players spend in the spotlight from the time they are young, it's not always the easiest life, and with every move scrutinized, it can be very hard on players.

That's one of the reasons why the NHL and the NHLPA began the Player Assistance Program, something designed to give players help whether it be for mental health issues, personal struggles or whatever else they may be going through.

Former first-round pick enters the Player Assistance Program

On Wednesday, it was reported that former first-round pick Zach Dean has now officially entered the Player Assistance Program, as he is set to receive care from the NHL and the NHLPA moving forward.

It's unclear exactly why Dean is entering the program, which is a good thing for the player, as the details around such things often kept private for the benefit of the team and the player.

Over the past few years, many high profile players have entered the program, and to this point, many have benefitted greatly from the program set up by the NHL and the NHLPA.

Back in 2021, Dean was a first-round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights, but has played in just 9 NHL games to date, but given that he's still very young, he has plenty of time ahead of him to continue his development and become a great professional in the years to come.

Now, the hope is that the 22-year old can battle through whatever has led him to the program, and when the league clear him to return, he'll look to push for a full time role with the Blues moving forward.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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