Kevin Charles Dean (born April 1, 1969) is an American former professional ice hockey player who most recently served as an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks in the National Hockey League (NHL). Dean played seven seasons in the NHL for the New Jersey Devils, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, and Chicago Blackhawks.
Playing career Kevin Dean was drafted 86th overall in the 1987 NHL entry draft by the New Jersey Devils. He then played four years at the University of New Hampshire before transferring to the American Hockey League (AHL). In 1994–95 Dean helped the Albany River Rats win the AHL's Calder Cup championship. He made his NHL debut the same season and was a member of the Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils. Following a few seasons transferring between the minors and NHL, the Atlanta Thrashers claimed Dean in the 1999 NHL Expansion Draft. He would play for multiple teams in the NHL but never secure a permanent spot, retiring in 2002. Kevin Dean had to stop playing due to heart problems after ten years.
Coaching career Kevin Dean then became head coach of the Trenton Devils, the ECHL team owned and affiliated with the New Jersey Devils, from August 2006 through the 2010–11 season, after which the team suspended operations.
Prior to the 2011–12 season, he was named an assistant coach with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League. He became the P-Bruins head coach on July 18, 2016. One season later, he was again promoted within the Bruins' organization to be an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins.
Dean served three seasons as an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks, working with the team's defencemen. On June 5, 2025, Dean was hired by the Vancouver Canucks as an assistant coach to Adam Foote and succeeded Foote in his previous role as a defensive development coach. On May 19, 2026, the Canucks fired Foote and his coaching staff, including Dean, after the team finished the season in last place with a 25–49–8 record.
Dean also served as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2025 IIHF World Championships, winning a gold medal.
Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1985–86 Culver Military Academy USHS 35 28 44 72 48 — — — — — 1986–87 Culver Military Academy USHS 25 19 25 44 30 — — — — — 1987–88 U. of New Hampshire HE 27 1 6 7 34 — — — — — 1988–89 U. of New Hampshire HE 34 1 12 13 28 — — — — — 1989–90 U. of New Hampshire HE 39 2 6 8 42 — — — — — 1990–91 U. of New Hampshire HE 31 10 12 22 22 — — — — — 1990–91 Utica Devils AHL 7 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 1991–92 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 30 3 22 25 43 9 1 6 7 8 1991–92 Utica Devils AHL 23 0 3 3 6 — — — — — 1992–93 Utica Devils AHL 57 2 16 18 76 5 1 0 1 8 1992–93 Cincinnati Cyclones IHL 13 2 1 3 15 — — — — — 1993–94 Albany River Rats AHL 70 9 33 42 92 5 0 2 2 7 1994–95 Albany River Rats AHL 68 5 37 42 66 8 0 4 4 4 1994–95 New Jersey Devils NHL 17 0 1 1 4 3 0 2 2 0 1995–96 New Jersey Devils NHL 41 0 6 6 28 — — — — — 1995–96 Albany River Rats AHL 1 1 0 1 2 — — — — — 1996–97 New Jersey Devils NHL 28 2 4 6 6 1 1 0 1 0 1996–97 Albany River Rats AHL 2 0 1 1 4 — — — — — 1997–98 New Jersey Devils NHL 50 1 8 9 12 5 1 0 1 2 1997–98 Albany River Rats AHL 2 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 1998–99 New Jersey Devils NHL 62 1 10 11 22 7 0 0 0 0 1999–00 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 23 1 0 1 14 — — — — — 1999–00 Dallas Stars NHL 14 0 0 0 10 — — — — — 1999–00 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 27 2 8 10 12 — — — — — 2000–01 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 69 0 11 11 30 — — — — — 2001–02 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 76 5 14 19 33 — — — — — NHL totals 331 7 48 55 138 16 2 2 4 2
International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1988 United States WJC 6th 7 0 0 0 0 1998 United States WC 12th 3 0 0 0 0 Junior totals 7 0 0 0 0 Senior totals 3 0 0 0 0
Awards and honors Award Year RefAHL All-Star Game 1995 First All-Star Team 1995 Calder Cup champion 1995 NHL Stanley Cup champion 1995
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