Zach Dean has entered the nhl assistance program

[dhsux]

Hope he can find his way back. To Hockey would be awesome but just get back to be healthy and happy.

24 years old....we are all rooting for you.

[smilinjoefission]

He didn't look good the 9 games he played for the Blues and didn't look all that promising in the AHL games I watched him play the past couple seasons. It was clear he wasn't going to be a NHLer any time soon, way too many more promising players ahead of him. I'm speaking about Dean the hockey player, not Dean the person, I don;t know him so I don't have an opinion about it.

[skilles]

yea super bummer. As per all these things, it stays quiet until the player decides to talk about it. Could be a variety of things. Either way, it now makes more sense why the room filled up with that Lucic signing. Dean was slotted as the most ready 4th line style of player from the young group. Now there's a bit of vet insurance policy while the other young guys play for that middle 6 spot.

You think the Blues signed Lucic to a PTO because they knew this news on Dean was coming? I highly doubt they knew it was coming. Just hours ago, the Blues included Dean on their list of players for training camp. That’s now not happening obviously. He was also one of 12 forwards on the roster for the Prospect Showcase here in MN set to start in 2 days. If they had any inkling he wouldn’t be there, they either would’ve sent someone else instead or at least sent 13 guys instead of the minimum of 12 to give themselves a buffer.

I'm sure they new that it was at least likely, can't really not have him on the list until its announced. Doing so would have brought premature drama to the situation and had people asking lots of questions.

[Old_Goat]

I feel sorry for the kid. When i was 18 i got robbed and shot almost died. It took me a while to recover about 6 months to a year for pain and full healing. I got percs and oxys. I was drinking on them and i became addicted to them. I stopped playing hockey or really caring about much. Then after about 8months my life long doctor cut me off and i went through a with draw nightmare. When it was all over i realized how dangerous those drugs mixed with alcohol can be. to this day i will not take an opioid. I take aleve and advil thats it.

So my heart goes out to him and i hope he recovers before his career is over

You are a good man. You have incredible strength and courage to face that, conquer it and share your story. You have my utmost respect for surviving the attack as well as the physical recovery from the wounds and especially the ravages of the medicine.
You must be a helluva fantastic teammate.
Sincerely.

[theograce]

Good chance he’s in a pretty dark place.

Would be hard to be a 1st rounder with hope and wake up one day being 23.

Don’t know his backstory, but he grew up in a pretty tough place. Then again, lots of people do.

[STL fan in MN]

yea super bummer. As per all these things, it stays quiet until the player decides to talk about it. Could be a variety of things. Either way, it now makes more sense why the room filled up with that Lucic signing. Dean was slotted as the most ready 4th line style of player from the young group. Now there's a bit of vet insurance policy while the other young guys play for that middle 6 spot.

You think the Blues signed Lucic to a PTO because they knew this news on Dean was coming? I highly doubt they knew it was coming. Just hours ago, the Blues included Dean on their list of players for training camp. That’s now not happening obviously. He was also one of 12 forwards on the roster for the Prospect Showcase here in MN set to start in 2 days. If they had any inkling he wouldn’t be there, they either would’ve sent someone else instead or at least sent 13 guys instead of the minimum of 12 to give themselves a buffer.

I'm sure they new that it was at least likely, can't really not have him on the list until its announced. Doing so would have brought premature drama to the situation and had people asking lots of questions.

Why would you be so sure of that? Again, if the Blues at all saw this coming, I seriously doubt they only put 12 forwards on the Prospect Showcase team with Dean as one of them.

That said, what the Blues knew and when doesn’t really matter much so I don’t really care to argue the point further. But it’s quite obvious IMO.

[Harry S Deals]

yea super bummer. As per all these things, it stays quiet until the player decides to talk about it. Could be a variety of things. Either way, it now makes more sense why the room filled up with that Lucic signing. Dean was slotted as the most ready 4th line style of player from the young group. Now there's a bit of vet insurance policy while the other young guys play for that middle 6 spot.

You think the Blues signed Lucic to a PTO because they knew this news on Dean was coming? I highly doubt they knew it was coming. Just hours ago, the Blues included Dean on their list of players for training camp. That’s now not happening obviously. He was also one of 12 forwards on the roster for the Prospect Showcase here in MN set to start in 2 days. If they had any inkling he wouldn’t be there, they either would’ve sent someone else instead or at least sent 13 guys instead of the minimum of 12 to give themselves a buffer.

I'm sure they new that it was at least likely, can't really not have him on the list until its announced. Doing so would have brought premature drama to the situation and had people asking lots of questions.

Why would you be so sure of that? Again, if the Blues at all saw this coming, I seriously doubt they only put 12 forwards on the Prospect Showcase team with Dean as one of them.

That said, what the Blues knew and when doesn’t really matter much so I don’t really care to argue the point further. But it’s quite obvious IMO.

I dont see how Lucic had anything to do with Dean, doesnt make a lot of sense. A PTO was to be expected, Lucic knows Monty, not sure whats up with Ryan Suter but the Blues may have wanted a grey beard around/tough guy/shot in the dark success and Dean is a center.

[kimzey59]

He didn't look good the 9 games he played for the Blues and didn't look all that promising in the AHL games I watched him play the past couple seasons. It was clear he wasn't going to be a NHLer any time soon, way too many more promising players ahead of him. I'm speaking about Dean the hockey player, not Dean the person, I don;t know him so I don't have an opinion about it.

I would counter by saying he didn't necessarily look "bad" in those 9 games either.
He played solid enough defense and was engaging in the area's he needed to engage. He wasn't productive offensively and it was noticeable that he still needed to add a bit of weight; but that's true of most rookies. Everything I saw from Dean said he was just a few minor improvements away from being a legit bottom 6 option.
Granted, he's barely played since that stint so we don't know if he's made those improvements.

[Harry York 37]

He didn't look good the 9 games he played for the Blues and didn't look all that promising in the AHL games I watched him play the past couple seasons. It was clear he wasn't going to be a NHLer any time soon, way too many more promising players ahead of him. I'm speaking about Dean the hockey player, not Dean the person, I don;t know him so I don't have an opinion about it.

I would counter by saying he didn't necessarily look "bad" in those 9 games either.
He played solid enough defense and was engaging in the area's he needed to engage. He wasn't productive offensively and it was noticeable that he still needed to add a bit of weight; but that's true of most rookies. Everything I saw from Dean said he was just a few minor improvements away from being a legit bottom 6 option.
Granted, he's barely played since that stint so we don't know if he's made those improvements.

On the nose, as usual, Kimzey.

[skilles]

yea super bummer. As per all these things, it stays quiet until the player decides to talk about it. Could be a variety of things. Either way, it now makes more sense why the room filled up with that Lucic signing. Dean was slotted as the most ready 4th line style of player from the young group. Now there's a bit of vet insurance policy while the other young guys play for that middle 6 spot.

You think the Blues signed Lucic to a PTO because they knew this news on Dean was coming? I highly doubt they knew it was coming. Just hours ago, the Blues included Dean on their list of players for training camp. That’s now not happening obviously. He was also one of 12 forwards on the roster for the Prospect Showcase here in MN set to start in 2 days. If they had any inkling he wouldn’t be there, they either would’ve sent someone else instead or at least sent 13 guys instead of the minimum of 12 to give themselves a buffer.

I'm sure they new that it was at least likely, can't really not have him on the list until its announced. Doing so would have brought premature drama to the situation and had people asking lots of questions.

Why would you be so sure of that? Again, if the Blues at all saw this coming, I seriously doubt they only put 12 forwards on the Prospect Showcase team with Dean as one of them.

That said, what the Blues knew and when doesn’t really matter much so I don’t really care to argue the point further. But it’s quite obvious IMO.

When was that roster due? Definitely possible they didn't know or know for sure at that time depending on when it was.

[SRV1990]

Whatever his issues are, I hope the young man gets the help he needs. If he can return to hockey, that's great. But quality of life is more important.

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

Hope he can find his way back. To Hockey would be awesome but just get back to be healthy and happy.

24 years old....we are all rooting for you.

He's 22

[dhsux]

Hope he can find his way back. To Hockey would be awesome but just get back to be healthy and happy.

24 years old....we are all rooting for you.

He's 22

Thanks for the clarification

All the more

[Nublues69]

I feel sorry for the kid. When i was 18 i got robbed and shot almost died. It took me a while to recover about 6 months to a year for pain and full healing. I got percs and oxys. I was drinking on them and i became addicted to them. I stopped playing hockey or really caring about much. Then after about 8months my life long doctor cut me off and i went through a with draw nightmare. When it was all over i realized how dangerous those drugs mixed with alcohol can be. to this day i will not take an opioid. I take aleve and advil thats it.

So my heart goes out to him and i hope he recovers before his career is over

You are a good man. You have incredible strength and courage to face that, conquer it and share your story. You have my utmost respect for surviving the attack as well as the physical recovery from the wounds and especially the ravages of the medicine.
You must be a helluva fantastic teammate.
Sincerely.

MY goalies always thought so...i got two rules dont touch my goalie and dont effing touch my goalie.