Kazakhstan's former Barys captain Kevin Dallman has signed a contract with Saint-Petersburg SKA Hockey Club, Tengrinews.kz reports, citing Vesti.kz.

Kevin Dallman, the best striker of the past KHL season among defenders, has signed a two-year contract with the Russian team. The terms of the contract are confidential.

Earlier Barys management refused to extend the contract with the Canadian defender. According to the official version of the refusal, the metropolitan club and Canadian hockey player failed to successfully negotiate the cost of his contract.

“We have agreed with his agent that if the team fulfills its task and reaches the final of the tournament (World Hockey Championship), we will return to discussing the contract’s extension. But the team didn’t reach the final and Kevin, himself, didn’t show his best skills in the play-off. The issue in question was whether to prolong his contract or not. The hockey player asked for a four-year contract and the sum was quite large. That is why the decision was made not to extend the contract,” Barys president Nurlan Orazbayev said, explaining the refusal to prolong the contract.