Dean Kukan

Dean Kukan (born 8 July 1993) is a Swiss professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing with the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL). He is of Czech descent.

Playing career
Kukan played in the 2006 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a youth team from Zürich. Undrafted, he made his European Elite debut during the 2010–11 season playing in the Swiss National League A with the ZSC Lions. After two seasons, Kukan left for Luleå HF in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Kukan established a role on the blueline with Luleå HF over six seasons before using an NHL out-clause after the 2014–15 season, to sign a two-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on 1 June 2015.

In the 2015–16 season, Kukan made his NHL debut on 26 March 2016, against the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena. He was reassigned to their AHL affiliate at the end of the Blue Jackets season and went on to win the 2016 Calder Cup.

On June 9, 2017, the Blue Jackets re-signed Kukan to a one-year, two-way extension. On February 7, 2020, Kukan was signed to a two-year contract extension by the Blue Jackets.

Following his seventh season in North America in, and despite recording career best 3 goals and 11 points through 41 games with the Blue Jackets, Kukan as an impending free agent opted to return to his native Switzerland in re-joining original club, ZSC Lions, on a five-year contract through 2027 on 1 June 2022.

International play
Kukan participated at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships as a member of the Switzerland men's national junior ice hockey team.

He represented Switzerland at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and won a silver medal.