Team was prepared for lengthy injury, hoping it wouldn't be diagnosis that it turned out to be; now it gives 2021 first-round pick Dean chance to audition in NHL
The news wasn't great for the Blues, who found out the grim news that Oskar Sundqvist tore the ACL in his right knee and will miss the rest of the season, needing surgery and have a reevaluation timeline of six months.
Sundqvist, who had 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 71 games this season, now faces yet another long-term recovery for the second time in three years; he tore his left ACL against the San Jose Sharks in 2021 on a collision with then-teammate Kyle Clifford.
"It's sad news," Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko said. "He's a very important part of our team. So unlucky to get hurt, especially at that time of the year. It's a game. It's hockey. Anything could happen to anybody, so we just need to move forward and put everything together to get wins."
Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said the team was prepared for it to be a lengthy injury, hoping it wouldn't be the worst, though.
"Unfortunate. Certainly we were waiting for some tests," Bannister said. "We knew there was going to be some time involved, but obviously we were hoping for the best and we got the worst news for the team and for him. Obviously disappointed for himself. He was a big part of the team, the organization and what he does, both on and off the ice. We're going to miss him here for the time being, but it's important for him now to moving forward, just get rest, make sure he takes care of what he has to take care of and get himself ready for next season."
But you hear it all the time and it's come to fruition again: one player's misfortune turns into another player's opportunity, and such is the case for Zach Dean, the 30th pick in the 2021 NHL Draft of the Vegas Golden Knights, who was traded to the Blues on Feb. 27, 2023 for Ivan Barbashev.
Dean will be playing in his second NHL game after making his debut March 21 against the Ottawa Senators.
"Getting in the lineup, it's good for me, especially down the stretch," Dean said. "It sucks. That's not kind of what you want to hear coming out of that (Sundqvist injury), but that's a part of game. Now I'm getting in and I'm just excited, and it's going to be a fun one tonight."
