The 5-foot-11, 174-pound Dea played the 2021-22 season with the AHL's Laval Rocket where he registered 26-26-52 and 42 penalty minutes (PIM) in 70 regular-season games along with 4-4-8 and six PIM in 15 AHL playoff games. His 26 goals led the Rocket and his 52 points ranked second on the team.
The Laval, QC native enters 2022-23 with 33 games of NHL experience, and has collected 5-2-7 and 14 PIM with the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres over parts of the 2016-21 seasons. He has also played in 450 AHL games since 2013-14, and collected 130-161-291 and 316 PIM.
Dea played his major junior hockey with the QMJHL's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies from 2011-14, including playing for Coyotes Head Coach André Tourigny in his first two seasons with the Huskies.
