Kevin William Dineen (born October 28, 1963) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. , Dineen is the head coach of the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League (AHL). Dineen previously served as the head coach for the Florida Panthers and assistant coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. He was born in Quebec City, Quebec.
Playing career
St. Michael's Buzzers (1980–1981) As a seventeen-year-old, Dineen played with the St. Michael's Buzzers in Junior "B" hockey, where in 40 games he scored 15 goals and 43 points, while getting 167 penalty minutes in 1980–81.
University of Denver (1981–1983) Dineen began his college career in 1981–82, with the University of Denver Pioneers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. In his first season with the Pioneers, Dineen had 10 goals and 20 points in 27 games. He was then selected in the third round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers.
Dineen returned to the Pioneers for the 1982–83 season, where he was named captain as a sophomore and saw his numbers increase to 16 goals and 29 points in 36 games. Dineen played both forward and defense for the Pioneers during his two-year college career.
Canadian National Team (1983–1984) Dineen spent the 1983–84 hockey season with the Canadian national hockey team, where he scored five goals and 16 points in 52 games. Dineen also played in the 1984 Winter Olympics, however, he was held pointless in seven games for Team Canada.
Hartford Whalers (1984–1991) Dineen began the 1984–85 season with the Binghamton Whalers of the AHL, where he played in 25 games, scoring 15 goals and 23 points. He was then promoted to the Hartford Whalers, as he made his NHL debut on December 3, 1984, against the Montreal Canadiens. He finished the season in the NHL, scoring 25 goals and 41 points in 57 games with Hartford, however, the team failed to make the playoffs.
He stayed in the NHL for good in 1985–86, where Dineen improved his numbers, scoring 33 goals and 68 points in 57 games with Hartford, finishing fourth in team scoring. In ten playoff games, Dineen had a team high six goals and 13 points, as Hartford upset the Quebec Nordiques in the first round before losing to the Montreal Canadiens in the Adams Division finals.
Dineen had a breakout season with the Whalers in 1986–87, scoring a team high 40 goals, and finishing second on the team with 79 points, helping Hartford finish in first place in the Adams Division. In the playoffs, Dineen had two goals and three points, as the Whalers were upset in the first round by the Quebec Nordiques.
His production slipped in the 1987–88 season, as Dineen had 25 goals and 50 points in 74 games, however, in six playoff games, he had four goals and eight points to lead the club.
Dineen had a career season in 1988–89, scoring a career high 45 goals and 89 points to lead the club in scoring, however, in four playoff games, Dineen had only one goal as the Whalers were swept in the first round. In 1988 and 1989, Dineen went to the NHL All-Star Game.
In 1989–90, Dineen saw his numbers slip to 25 goals and 66 points, however, he missed 13 games due to injuries during the season. In six playoff games, Dineen had three goals and five points as the Whalers lost to their rivals, the Boston Bruins in the first round.
Dineen saw his production decrease again in 1990–91, scoring 17 goals and 47 points, which was his lowest point total since his rookie season in 1984–85. In six playoff games, he registered only one goal as the Whalers went out in the first round.
He began the 1991–92 season with the Whalers, where in 16 games, Dineen had four goals and six points. On November 13, 1991, the Whalers traded Dineen to the Philadelphia Flyers for Murray Craven and a fourth round draft pick in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, where he would play for his father Bill Dineen, who was the Flyers head coach.
Philadelphia Flyers (1991–1995) Dineen saw his production increase with the Philadelphia Flyers to finish the 1991–92 season, scoring 26 goals and 56 points in 64 games with the Flyers, however, the team failed to make the playoffs.
In his first full season with Philadelphia in 1992–93, Dineen scored 35 goals, his highest total since scoring 45 with the Hartford Whalers in 1988–89, while finishing with 63 points, to finish fourth in team scoring. Philadelphia missed the playoffs once again.
Dineen was named the Flyers captain for the 1993–94, however, he saw his production decrease, scoring 19 goals and 42 points, his lowest point total since his rookie season. Once again, the Flyers missed the playoffs. Dineen resigned captaincy in September 1994, in favor of Eric Lindros.