NY Islanders Mourn Former First-Round Pick, Stanley Cup Champion Paul Boutilier

Former New York Islanders defenseman and 1983 Stanley Cup champion Paul Boutilier has died, the NHL Alumni Association announced Thursday. He was 63.

Boutilier was selected by the Islanders in the first round of the 1981 NHL Draft after playing junior hockey with the Sherbrooke Castors of the QMJHL. He joined the organization during the height of its dynasty years and made his NHL debut on Oct. 31, 1981.

His first NHL goal came just over a year later, on Nov. 18, 1982, at Nassau Coliseum against the Boston Bruins.

Boutilier’s place in Islanders history is tied to the final championship of the franchise’s four-year Stanley Cup run. During the 1982-83 season, he appeared in 29 regular-season games and two playoff games, enough to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup after the Islanders won their fourth consecutive title.

The NHL Alumni Association offered condolences to Boutilier’s family, friends and former teammates in a statement.

Though his role on that team was limited, Boutilier remained part of the organization for several seasons. He played parts of five seasons with the Islanders from 1981-86, totaling 213 regular-season games and 36 playoff appearances with the club.

His NHL career later included stops with the Bruins, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets. In all, Boutilier played parts of nine NHL seasons.

Boutilier also had success internationally, representing Canada at the 1982 World Junior Championship and helping the team win gold.

After retiring as a player, he moved behind the bench. Boutilier served as an assistant coach at Saint Mary’s University from 1991-93 before becoming head coach, a position he held until 1997.

Boutilier’s career connected several chapters of hockey history: a first-round pick, a member of the Islanders’ dynasty era, a World Junior gold medalist and, ultimately, a Stanley Cup champion.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow