The Toronto Maple Leafs can add some much-needed speed and youth for cheap by claiming Zach Dean off waivers after he was placed on the wire by the St. Louis Blues.
With the NHL waiver wire resetting at 2pm, that means there is a new crop of players who were placed there by their respective teams as they look to make a variety of roster moves.
Two players hit waivers on Thursday as NHL rosters continue to take shape
Garrett Wilson and Zach Dean were placed on waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues respectively, and teams will have 24 hours to place a claim on either player.
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Wilson, 35, is a long-time AHL staple that has bounced around several organizations including the Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Flyers. He has two goals and eight points in 89 career NHL games, with his best season coming in 2018-19 with Pittsburgh - where he played 50 games and had all eight of his points.
Dean, 23, is a speedy centre who has great playmaking ability though he is a bit smaller of a player at 6-foot, 179 pounds. He has yet to score in the NHL however, he has shown fantastic scoring ability at the junior level, just hasn't had a real shot to shine.
Maple Leafs can add some underrated scoring and speed to their lineup
It's the latter that we are going to focus on, as Dean would be a cheap and reliable option for the Toronto Maple Leafs' bottom-six, as well as provide some help for the future.
Dean is someone who can aid the offensive side of the bottom-six and at least provide a younger and faster presence than a Bo Groulx or Vinni Lettieri. He still needs to earn his spot and a stint with the Marlies where he can contribute nightly is going to only benefit him.
Making $850,000, he's an RFA after this season, so even claiming him and extending him past this year (should he work out) is not going to cost much. At a time where the Maple Leafs need to win now, they also need to think about who is going to fill out their lineup without breaking the bank.
Toronto doesn't have a lot of space to work with contract-wise, and they have to ensure that whatever moves they do make help them out now as best as possible. Dean could be an underrated asset in the Maple Leafs' quest to get younger and quicker but it all depends on if the team feels the same way.
Should the Maple Leafs claim Zach Dean off waivers from the St. Louis Blues?
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