ZACHARY DEAN // 2021 Scouting Report #5
Stats: 10 goals, 10 assists, 20 points, 23 games played
Position: C/RW/LW
Team: Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 170lbs.
DOB: 1/04/2003
Letter=how consistent a player is, A being most consistent
Number=Gage of talent, 1 being most talented
RANKED:
Ranked #25 by DR. TEE SCOUTING
Ranked #32 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #32 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #49 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #29 by NEUTRAL ZONE
Ranked #27 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #26 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #31 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #39 by SMAHT SCOUTING
SCOUTING REPORT:
Hello my friends, and today I will be going over my 4th scouting report on the year, and for this report I will be looking at QMJHL forward Zachary Dean. Now, Dean has been getting some mixed feelings lately. You either love him or hate him, and would love to be on his team, but would hate to be playing against him. Playing on a struggling Gatineau Olympiques team, he has played very well, especially given he’s playing with Manix Landry, and Antonin Verrault, who are good, but just take Xavier Bourgault for example. I mean the kid plays with Mavrik Bourque, and Lorenzo Canonica! And without further ado, let’s dive right in!
SKATING - 1B
Zaschary Dean is one of the fastest, and quickest players in this year's draft. He uses his elite speed to create scoring chances all over the ice, even if his 2 assists over the 2 games that I tracked of him may not seem very impressive or like he really does that effectively. Another example of his speed is that I tracked him going from blue line to blue line at a very good 1.73 second blue line to blue line, so if you liked Dylan Holloway, and you thought he was fast, then you’ll think that Zach Dean is fast. He’s extremely agile, and very mobile, and navigates the ice at an extremely high pace, and with great ease. He can easily navigate tight areas as well, and keep control of the puck. In terms of a skater comparison I’d say probably someone like Rafael Havry-Pinard, a undersized center\winger that is playing in the AHL with the Laval Rocket. They have small strides, and don't look like he’s really generating power through his skating strides, although I do think that Zachary Dean has that on Pinard, that he’s more effective when he has to quick start, or generate power through his skating in a few strides very quickly. Some aren’t a fan of his overall outlook on his skating, but I’m just such a big fan of his overall skating ability, and the way he can mold his transition game with his speed, and skill. In terms of the way you might see someone like him skate I would day a good comparison would be when you watch someone like Taylor Hall go full speed, especially when he has control of the puck, and is given time to really get going.
PASSING + PUCK SKILLS - 1C
Zachary Dean is a terrific puck handler, and playmaker when he is at his best. He finds open holes in defenses, and drives play very positively. Collecting a total of 21 total controlled individual zone transitions, (12 defensive, 9 offensive), he’s great at getting the puck, and going with it. He’s also managed to score 6 points in his last 4 games largely in part due to his amazing puck skills, and puck moving abilities in transition. Another positive to his game is that he is effective while head manning the puck, and looking up ice as well. He can weave through opposing teams, and in, and out of traffic extremely effectively wherever it may be on the ice, and especially the offensive zone where he can then either unleash his shot, or look for a passing option, which brings me to my next point. Dean is a high end passer, although he went 31/41 in terms of overall passes between the two games I tracked of him, which isn’t bad by any means, but definitely wasn’t as high of a rate as some of the other players I’ve tracked like Sasha Pastujov, and Luke Hughes. His completion percentage of about 75% is impressive for someone playing on a team that really doesn’t have the best overall players. 36% of his passes were directed to high or medium danger areas which is second in my tracking behind only Sasha Pastujov who put up some of the best tracking numbers I’ve ever seen. When his passes were directed to high or medium danger areas he completed 53% of them, 8/15, which isn’t mind boggling again, but is definitely pretty good given that he was consistently trying to make the hard plays that would’ve ended with the best result. And although you might considered of few things he may do to be inconsistent, there isn’t really much you can say it about, he constantly attacks high danger areas, even if the stats don’t show that, which for instance think of someone like Fyodor Svechkov, or Prohkor Poltapov. It's a similar situation. So does he need improvement? Of course, but was it his fault? No. Wherever he gets taken, and whatever team gets him, they’ll be happy with their choice. He’s efficient, smart, and has a high work ethic. He makes up for his mistakes, and combine that with his underrated offensive upside, and unique overall toolset, you could be dealing with a very good offensive play driver in the future.
SHOT - 2A
Zach Dean has a quick shot, that he can get off from a lot of places. Although it isn’t the hardest, and that’s something he can improve, it’s pretty accurate, and can find open seams on the net. He’s quick to release a scoring opportunity as well, and his work ethic comes in here too, as he’ll go to the front of the net, and dirty areas to score goals. He works every moment of every shift, and this translates well in a matter of how he’s able to consistently do what he needs to do to score goals. He’s just as good of a goal scorer from simply shooting the puck as well, he has a good shot in motion to go with this, and it’s one of the many reasons why Gatineau is still a relatively decent team. Dean’s above average hockey IQ is a reason why he’s able to get open as well, his elusiveness helps him to slip past opposing defenders, and find a way to the net. Over the games I tracked Dean tallied 8 individual shot attempts but 7 of those were from high or medium danger areas which is an impressive stat to say the least. Giving him a 87% high or medium danger shot attempt percentage which is only 3% behind Sasha Pastujov’s leading 90%. Dean drives offensive play nearly as well as he does shooting than passing. He’s able to create space for himself, and open up scoring chances with his quick thinking, edge work, and hands. Despite not having a ton of potential as a goal scoring threat in the NHL, he’ll score a good 15-20 goals at his peak, tallying close to 30-40 assists in a season, but it all depends on the system he’s placed in. For the sneaky, quick, and high pace he plays the game, as well as his work ethic, and puck pressure, I think Dean can be a complimentary piece to any team in the NHL, especially with how much “unseen offense” he provides to his team.
DEFENSIVE PLAY - 2A
Zach Dean is a relentless, puck pressuring centerman in his own zone. Although people criticize him for not being defensively aware of the okay often, I don’t see that too often in his game, even if I’ve watched only 2 of his games. At his best he’s very poised with the puck, and can headman it effectively. At worse his bangs it off the boards but that wasn’t an ongoing problem like it was with someone like Tyler Kleven. Dean is smart with the puck, he rarely turns it over, and if he doesn’t find any options he can use his high end speed, and endless motor. But in a way, playing on a lesser team in Gatineau has done wonders for him though. It’s enhanced his responsibility, made him more NHL ready, and has helped him to become more of a man than a boy on the physical aspect of the game as well. He’s not afraid to chip in in the dirty areas in the defensive zone. Like in the offensive zone, or just anywhere on the ice he does it often. When the puck isn’t in possession of him, or anyone of his teammates he does everything in his power to get it back, and he has become a true leader. Similar to what coach Eric Landry said about him in an interview, “He is a good person. He contributes to the team on, and off the ice.” That’s one of the biggest reasons he’s been sporting the ‘A’ in Gatineau at only 18 years old. Aside from his leadership, and work ethic, I mean how many more times am I going to say work ethic?! But aside from that, he does what he can to clog up passing lanes whenever he gets the chance, and is not afraid to put his body on the line by blocking a shot for his team. For the most part, he’s very well positioned, and besides a couple times I really didn’t see too much panic, or worry in him whenever an offensive play took place. He’s very well engaged in the mental side of the game as well, and is overall a great two way player. His size is the only major reason he is being held back from a 1A in this department, but he plays like a Dylan Holloway, or Anton Lundell would. It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, but about the size of the fight in the dog.
OVERALL - 1C
Overall, Dean is just a great two way player. Maybe I’m biased because he’s one of my favorite players which is odd, because people are saying that he’s the Ridley Greig of this year but I didn’t like Ridley Greig, but back to my point. Dean has the offensive potential of someone like Brendan Gallagher, with just a pinch of Nick Suzuki. His two way instincts, and overall perception when the puck is both on his stick, and off is very good. He has underrated offensive skill, and if he can translate to the NHL, he could be a very good 2nd line centermen. He has the overall hockey IQ of someone like Anthony Cirelli, and the grittiness, and work ethic of someone like Brendan Gallagher, as well as the skill of someone like him. I feel like I’ve said enough about how underrated I think he is, so I’ll end on a note saying that if he turns out as well as he can be, and is put in the right system he can easily be a 40 point scorer, and a great playoff performer.
Two way
Intelligent
NHL ready
Gritty
PLAYER COMPARISON: BRENDAN GALLAGHER
I feel like Brendan Gallagher, and Zachary Dean on the same team would be a match made in heaven! Why? Because both players are a smaller version of what a hybrid between Nazem Kadri, and Sebastian Aho would be. Small, fast, skilled, gritty, andvoth possesses the greatest attribute no one can teach which is work ethic. Two of the hardest working hockey players on, and off the ice, they combine high offensive awareness, with a great two way game making them a rare breed of player. Another good comparison would be going as far as even saying that Dean plays a similar game to someone like Brad Marchand. They all have the X factor that makes them a great player in all situations, and areas of the game. To go along with this, I also see a lot of value on Zach Dean when it comes to playoff hockey. He does the little things that help your team win a cup, and that’s another reason I put a lot of value into those players. Overall, he may not be the next Brad Marchand, but I could definitely see at least Brendan Gallagher, and he’s a pretty darn good hockey player wouldn’t ya say?