Blues’ Zach Dean to get care from NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program

On Wednesday, the National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association announced that St. Louis Blues forward Zach Dean will receive care from the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Per the terms of the program, Dean will be unavailable to play for an indefinite amount of time. He will be able to return to the Blues organization when he’s cleared for competition by the program’s administrators.

The 22-year-old has been with the Blues organization since he turned pro in 2023. He played in nine games with St. Louis during his rookie campaign in 2023-24, but didn’t register a point. His last NHL appearance came on April 17 of that season. Dean spent the entire 2024-25 season with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Blues’ American Hockey League affiliate, though he didn’t get the chance to play much. An injury in October kept him out of action until late January.

The Grande Prairie, Alb. native ended up scoring a goal and three assists for four points in 11 games. He played in all three of the T-Birds contests in the Calder Cup Playoffs and scored a goal, though the team was eliminated by the Providence Bruins in a best-of-three first-round series.

In 60 AHL regular-season appearances, Dean has scored 10 goals and eight assists for 18 points.

Dean came to St. Louis in February 2023, as he was the prospect included in the deal that saw the Vegas Golden Knights acquire Ivan Barbashev from the Blues. At the time, Dean was still with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

Dean was originally taken by the Golden Knights in the first round, 30th overall, of the 2021 NHL Draft. Along with his pro career, he had the chance to represent his country at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. Dean posted three points and 33 penalty minutes as Team Canada won the gold medal in Halifax.