Blues Waive Three, Paving Way for Dean and Dube
St. Louis waived Jack Finley, Oskar Sundqvist, and Nathan Walker on Friday. The moves appear to open the final two forward spots for Zach Dean and Dillon Dube. Dean is seeking his NHL debut, while Dube has 325 games of NHL experience from his time with Calgary.
St. Louis made three waiver placements Friday, a roster squeeze that seems to leave two forward vacancies for Zach Dean and Dillon Dube. Five forwards had been in camp contention for those spots. Dean, 23, has yet to play an NHL game and spent much of his pro career in the AHL; he arrived via the 2023 Ivan Barbashev trade with Vegas.
Dube, 28, brings 325 NHL appearances from Calgary, where he produced 127 points between 2018-19 and 2023-24. He was in the Blues organization last season without skating in an NHL contest. Finley, Sundqvist and Walker could head to Springfield if unclaimed; St. Louis must set its opening roster by Monday.
The waiver decisions could affect the players involved, their families, and Springfield’s roster, while giving St. Louis fans a first look at Dean and a familiar veteran in Dube. If Finley, Sundqvist, or Walker are claimed, their careers and locations may shift abruptly; if they clear, they may continue in the AHL. The moves may also shape fan expectations for the Blues’ forward mix early in the season.