Dineen discusses Whalers memories, family mentality in a Q&A with NHL.com.

With NHL.com’s Q&A feature, “Sit Down With…”, we talk to key people in the game, gaining insight into their lives both on and off the ice. Today, we feature Kevin Dean, former NHL forward and current coach of the Utica Comets, American Hockey League affiliate of the New Jersey Devils.

NEWARK, NJ — Kevin Dean believes the NHL has become a faster and more exciting game largely because of the skill and creativity of the younger generation.

The 59-year-old knows. He played 19 NHL seasons from 1984-2003, was an NHL assistant general manager for two seasons (2003-05) and coached at some level at the NHL or American Hockey League level since 2005-06.

“I think there’s a lot more confidence now,” Dineen said. “There’s a sense that if (Devil’s Advocate) Luke Hughes Being able to help and be a part of an NHL lineup, put him in there and it’s going to give that confidence. I think every organization is doing this; The trend is to give opportunities to young players.

“With the amount of video and analytics out there, I think you can have players who are incredibly knowledgeable and know how the game is played and what they need to do to be successful.”

Deanen coached Utica the past two seasons and previously coached San Diego (Anaheim Ducks) from 2019-21. He was the coach of the Florida Panthers from 2011-13 and was an assistant with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015 when they won the Stanley Cup.

Selected in the third round (No. 56) of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers, Deanne played for the Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets. He had 760 points (355 goals, 405 assists) in 1,188 NHL games and 41 points (23 goals, 18 assists) in 59 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

NHL.com caught up with Dineen earlier this month at the Devils Development Camp to discuss his time as a player, his memories in Hartford and his future.

Played forward and defense for two seasons at the University of Denver (1981-83) and was captain as a sophomore. How did playing two positions help you and was it pressure as a captain at a young age?

I learned about school when I was 17 (pressure) and I was a young high school student. I didn’t go forward until I went to training camp in Hartford[in1984]and that was because (general manager) Emile Francis felt he was more inclined to play forward for me, so that was my first year in the pros and I went down to Binghamton (AHL). But my college experience was amazing. Maturity maybe wasn’t there when I was young and it was a lot to be thrown into that environment … Between school, living away from home and playing at that level of hockey was probably the easiest part of hockey for me because you’re used to being on the farm and the players are very happy, I was very young as a captain. It was lucky. .”

What do you remember about the Hartford Walls (1984-92, 1995-97)?

“I guess community would be the best word because it’s not a big city and it has a very passionate fanbase. The players were a tight-knit group of guys who still stay in touch to this day. Ronnie Francis’ daughter got married last year. And we had maybe six ex-Whalers there. Golf tournament in Hartford in the summer.” There’s and there’s always another half-dozen former players that compete and I get to see, so it’s great to meet and enjoy each other’s company. When you get that kind of atmosphere on a team, I think it creates really strong memories. Joel Quenneville and I are both married Hartford girls, so I still think there’s a strong connection to the area. I look at it all the time. It’s where I grew up. I moved around a lot when my dad[Bill Dean]was in his playing and coaching career, but when I got to Hartford, I’d been there for about seven years, and we still consider it today. It’s part of our home.”

Have you heard the unofficial whale jingle “Brass Bonanza”?

“It’s a very hard thing to forget. When we were coaching Canada at the 2019 Spengler Cup in Switzerland, we had lunch at the top of a ski hill and it was beautiful. The people there were wearing all kinds of t-shirts. There was definitely someone in a Hartford Walls shirt. I started talking to him but he didn’t speak any English. I started complaining to Brass Bonanza because he couldn’t and he started smiling. I don’t need a translator when you speak. Brass Bonanza.

In the year You had the opportunity to coach the Philadelphia Flyers under your father Bill in 1991-92. What was it like?

“It was great … it really was. The fun part was that even though my mom and dad were in Philly, we didn’t really see each other. We saw each other on Christmas, Thanksgiving, but the cross was real. I found out that day when I came on the field that he was called coach. What do you think?’ He asked me. What’s changed? I said, ‘Paul Homgren got fired’, and I couldn’t believe it, and then he said, ‘Come on, you know.’ But I really didn’t, and then he said, ‘It’s your dad.’ : In a lot of ways, I think he’s probably a little tougher on me than most players. I think I’ve had some pretty solid seasons with him, but he still gives me a little bit of a shot and says, ‘Gee, you’re handling that punch like a friggin’ grenade.’ It’s a good thing to come full circle because not only did I get to train my son (Will) at the Devils training camp, but also Mark Recchi’s son (Cam). [Recchi] He was with me in Philadelphia. That’s the amazing thing about hockey. That’s the family atmosphere we have. It’s great to see the kids of their former teammates playing hockey.”

Speaking of your son at Yale University, what was it like coaching him at the development camp?

“We kept our distance. He took it all in like any other player and I think it was a great learning experience. There were a lot of conversations, a lot of opportunities to learn and he’s a very curious kid. He’s a good student of the game and has a good feel for it. I think he took a lot and ( (Devils Director of Player Development) Meghan Duggan does a great job of creating a good learning environment for the players. It’s been great value for him. It’s also fun, because as a coach, you don’t get to see your kid play a lot. So just being able to spend a week and see him on the ice was great.

What advice do you have for any young player who dreams of playing in the NHL?

“No. 1, you have to have commitment and you have to be passionate about it. To be one of the best in the world at something, you have to make some sacrifices in your life, so there’s a lot of commitment there. But I think there’s also a life balance that goes along with that. Learned off campus. There are lessons, so give your time, give your work, but there’s a whole world out there and it’s important to find that difference. Your daily life.”

Travis Greene was named the Devils’ associate coach on June 22. Both of you have met each other not only as players but also as coaches. What did you think of the move?

“I was playing with ‘Trav’ for a while (1992-2003 in the NHL), and between when he was in Utica (2013-17) and when I got there to follow him in coaching. I always thought he was a very talented and intelligent player. I think so. I haven’t heard anything about his time in Utica, and he had some successful teams coaching the Vancouver Canucks (2017-22). He’s very organizational. Pick it up.”

What does coaching mean to you and do you want to become an NHL coach again?

“I think you put your work out there every day. It’s not like you do things to be seen and seen, but I look at this opportunity here that’s great for my family. I’m close to where we’re going. Spend our summers in Lake George, New York. I’ve had great support with the staff in Utica and New Jersey.” But let’s not kid ourselves. Winning is fun and that’s what it’s all about, right? The real attraction to being involved with the Devils and Phil in this organization is the prospect pool. It’s exciting. The last two years, it’s been great to work with that kind of talent and the resources we have, we’re going to be young and everything. We’re working on it. We can make it as a coach in the American League, which is a big part of that. We’ll see the future, but for me, I consider it fun to go to work every day.