The 22-year-old prospect has been assigned to the Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, and will report to the team Friday.
The league and the union said in a joint release on Sept. 10 that Dean would be in the program for an indefinite period and would return to the Blues when cleared by the program administrators.
The initial release did not detail why Dean was getting assistance from the program, which provides confidential support and treatment for players and their families dealing with mental health, substance use or other personal issues.
Dean, born in Grande Prairie, Alta., and raised in Mount Pearl, N.L., was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round, 30th overall, at the 2021 NHL Draft. St. Louis acquired him in a February 2023 trade that sent forward Ivan Barbashev to the Golden Knights.
He played nine games with the Blues in 2023-24. He has 10 goals and eight assists in 60 games over two seasons with the Thunderbirds.
Dean helped Canada win gold at the 2023 world junior championship in Halifax and Moncton, N.B. He had a goal and two assists in seven games at the tournament.
–With files from The Canadian Press