Zach Dean enters the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program

On Wednesday, the National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association announced that St. Louis Blues forward Zach Dean has entered the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The reason behind his need for the care of the program has not been released.

This means that 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 forward just turned pro. 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 as he played the full 2024-25 campaign with with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Blues’ American Hockey League affiliate. He was however out with injury from October to late January and ended up scoring a goal and three assists for four points in 11 games.

Dean also took part in three games of the Calder Cup Playoffs and scored a goal, though the Thunderbirds were eventually eliminated by the Providence Bruins in a best-of-three first-round series. In 60 AHL regular-season appearances, Dean has put up10 goals and eight assists for 18 points.

Dean was traded earlier on in his career after he was selected in the first round, 30th overall, of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Vegas Golden Knights. They shipped him to St. Louis in 2023 as the prospect included in the deal that saw Vegas acquire Ivan Barbashev from the Blues. At the time, Dean was still with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. He went on to the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording three points and 33 penalty minutes as Team Canada won the gold medal in Halifax.

That’s a lot happening earlier in a career for a first round pick. Let’s hope he gets the help he needs and deserves to be healthy and happy.