The St. Louis Blues have announced that forward Zach Dean has been cleared by the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program to resume active status. The 22-year-old will report to the team's AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, on Friday. Dean, who has not played this season due to the program, brings prior experience from both the NHL and AHL.
The St. Louis Blues made the announcement on January 1, 2026, confirming that Zach Dean is now eligible to return to play following his time in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Prior to the start of the current season, the 22-year-old forward from Grande Prairie, Alberta, was placed in the program and has yet to appear in any games this year.
Dean, standing at 6 feet and 176 pounds, was originally selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round, 30th overall, of the 2021 NHL Draft. He was acquired by the Blues in a trade on February 26, 2023, that sent forward Ivan Barbashev to Vegas. In his brief NHL stint with St. Louis, Dean has played nine regular-season games without recording a point.
His professional experience includes time with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Blues' AHL affiliate. Over 60 career AHL regular-season games with the team, Dean has tallied 18 points, consisting of 10 goals and eight assists, along with 26 penalty minutes. In his rookie AHL season, he scored nine goals and 14 points overall. Last season, he appeared in 11 games for the Thunderbirds, contributing one goal and four points total.
Dean is known for his high-paced style, featuring strong puckhandling and playmaking vision. As he heads to Springfield, the Thunderbirds currently sit sixth in the Atlantic Division with an 11-12-4-2 record. Dean is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and the Blues hope his return will allow him to build on his development and potentially earn another NHL call-up.