In the lead-up to the NHL Trade Deadline, FloHockey prospect analyst Chris Peters will break down the deals involving notable prospects and picks.

The player movement continues ahead of the March 3 trade deadline in the NHL. The Vegas Golden Knight swere the latest contending team to dip into their prospect pool in search of more immediate help, sending 2021 first-round pick Zach Dean to the St. Louis Blues for two-way forward Ivan Barbashev.

The Golden Knights are always in go-for-it mode and this trade is yet another example that this team feels like it’s never out of the hunt. The franchise has only been in existence since 2017-18. They have made six picks in the first round since then. Five of those players have been traded. Only 2020 pick Brendan Brisson remains as a Vegas Golden Knights first-rounder. 

Dean is the latest to be moved out and he’ll go to a rebuild-on-the-fly team in St. Louis. Since we’re focusing more on the prospects that are traded, here’s a look at what the Blues are getting in Zach Dean.

🔄 The Golden Knights have acquired forward Ivan Barbashev from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Zach Dean. Welcome to Vegas, Ivan! #VegasBorn | #TheGoldenAgehttps://t.co/XhFJXDKOwS

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 26, 2023

About Zach Dean

Zach Dean, currently playing for the Gatineau Olympiques in the QMJHL, is a solid two-way forward who plays the game with some physicality. He has a good shot and makes a lot of smart plays with the puck on his stick. He won’t blow you away with skill, but has good touch on the puck and can find the the best options easily.

Dean plays the game competitively, battling, playing physical and is unafraid to get in on the forecheck or be the first man in the corners. He doesn’t have remarkable size, but he’s sturdy and strong.

At 20 years old, he’s having his best season of junior hockey as is to be expected for a player of his caliber. He hasn’t been a dominant scorer in the QMJHL this season, but still has 49 points in 38 games and is sure to eclipse his prior career highs in his numbers. When it comes to points per game, he ranks 12th overall in the QMJHL with a rate of 1.29. 

Dean was named to Canada’s World Junior Championship team and played a depth role while helping Canada win gold at the tournament. He finished the event with three points while playing mostly fourth-line minutes and occasionally getting work on the PK.

He projects favorably into a middle-of-the-lineup role, potentially as a third-line center who provides scoring pop and a bit of jam.There is some upside there to suggest he could play a bigger role down the line, though. Stylistically, he has a lot of traits the Blues value in young players and his versatility is going to give them a lot to work with over the years as he develops into a pro.

Evaluating The Blues' Return

The Golden Knights have always been in the “now” business and futures are expendable. Dean is a good prospect that looks like he’ll be an NHL player for a long time and have an established role within the next few years. That’s a player you’d like to hold onto, but he’s not necessarily a blue-chip prospect that should have been deemed untouchable. 

I grade Dean as a solid B prospect, which is to say that he’ll certainly play NHL games and has a chance to round out into an impact player down the line, but more likely is a mid-tier player. I think he still has some ceiling to reach and now he’ll go to a team that has done a very solid job of developing players just like him.

I’d anticipate Dean starts next season in the AHL, but could push for a spot in camp and get himself moved up their call-up list.

The Blues have clearly shifted into sell mode and the market must have been fairly strong for a two-way presence like Barbashev who has his name on the Stanley Cup. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, so this could end up amounting to a rental for Vegas.

Landing a first-round drafted player as opposed to picks gives the Blues a little more certainty in what they’re getting. I think St. Louis did a strong job of getting legitimate value out of a player on an expiring deal. 

When you add in the trades of Vladimir Tarasenko, Ryan O’Reilly, and Noel Acciari, the Blues have added a 2023 first-round pick from Toronto, a conditional 2023 first-round pick from New York, 2023 third-round pick, 2024 second-round pick, 2024 conditional, fourth-round pick, prospect Mikhail Abramov, prospect Hunter Skinner, AHLer Adam Gaudette, and now Dean.

Of the pieces the Blues got, Dean is far and away the best prospect they’ve acquired to date and shares similar value of what they’d likely get with their 2023 picks acquired via trade. He has a clearer NHL picture, too.

Doug Armstrong has been wheeling and dealing and has a chance to rebuild a young core around a number of players already on the roster while also making significant strides over the next two drafts towards replenishing the prospect system that already includes a blue-chipper in Jimmy Snuggerud. He's maximizing value for expiring assets, which is as good as you can hope for in the position the franchise is currently in.