Kevin Dallman

Playing career

Kevin Dallman began his hockey journey as a kid, playing in the 1995 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from Niagara Falls, Ontario. He went undrafted but turned pro after a strong junior stint with the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League, signing his first contract with the Boston Bruins on July 18, 2002. After three seasons with Boston's AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, he finally made his NHL debut for the Bruins during the 2005–06 season. He suited up for 21 games with Boston before the St. Louis Blues picked him up off waivers on December 5, 2005. Following a solid run with the Blues, he inked a two-year deal as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings on July 10, 2006.

After two years in the Kings organization, Dallman headed to Europe, signing with Barys Astana of the brand-new Kontinental Hockey League on July 24, 2008. There, he became an offensive force, leading all KHL defensemen in scoring with 28 goals and 30 assists for 58 points in 53 games. In 2010, he became a Kazakhstani citizen and joined the national team, making his first IIHF appearance for Kazakhstan at the final Olympic qualifying tournament in Riga.

On May 18, 2012, Barys Astana's management declined to extend his contract. Team president Nurlan Orazbayev explained that they had an agreement with Dallman's agent: if the team reached the tournament final, they would revisit the extension. But the team fell short, and Dallman's playoff performance wasn't up to par. When Dallman asked for a four-year extension with hefty compensation, the club decided not to renew. He then signed a two-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg on May 31, 2012. In May 2014, he returned to Barys Astana on a three-year deal. After 11 seasons in the KHL, Dallman announced his retirement on August 5, 2019.