Paul Boutilier, Stanley Cup champion Islanders defenseman, dead at 63

Nypost · 🇮🇳 public India · May 14, 2026 · 330 words · By Christian Arnold

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What to know about Paul Boutilier, Stanley Cup champion Islanders defenseman, dead at 63

Paul Boutilier, a defenseman who played five seasons with the 1980s Islanders and helped the team win a Stanley Cup, has died, the NHL Alumni Association confirmed Thursday.

Claims checked 20

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center67%

Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Paul Boutilier, a defenseman who played five seasons with the 1980s Islanders and helped the team win a Stanley Cup, has died, the NHL Alumni Association confirmed Thursday.

Why it matters

“We send our deepest condolences to Paul’s family, friends, and former teammates during this incredibly difficult time,” the NHL Alumni Association said in a statement.

Common ground

Boutilier’s career in the NHL spanned parts of nine seasons, playing for the Islanders organization from 1981-86.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: Paul Boutilier, Stanley Cup champion Islanders defenseman, dead at 63?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Boutilier split time between the QMJHL and the NHL during the 1982-83 season?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/14/sports/paul-boutilier-stanley-cup-champion-islande…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 20 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 10

info Single Source 4

verified Verified By Reference 2

check_circle Corroborated 2

help Insufficient Evidence 1

verified Verified 1

schedule

Claim 1: “Boutilier split time between the QMJHL and the NHL during the 1982-83 season”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 2: “Boutilier represented Canada on a number of occasions and won gold during the 1982 World Junior Championship”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 3: “Boutilier was 63 years old”

SINGLE SOURCE

Evidence from Wikipedia and the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame confirms he was born on May 3, 1963. If he were 63, he would have been born around 1960-1961. Based on his birth date of 1963, he would be approximately 61 (as of 2024), but there is no evidence provided that he has died at age 63.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Paul André Boutilier (born May 3, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played with several National Hockey League teams in the 1980s. He was a member of the 1983 Stanley C…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Boutilier

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Paul Boutilier was born May 3, 1963, in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He started skating at the age of three, where he discovered he wanted to play hockey. His skill caught the attention of major junior scouts…
https://nsshf.com/inductee/paul-boutilier/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Paul Boutilier might not have been the next Denis Potvin, but he was certainly a very good everyday defenseman.Despite another cup of coffee with the Jets, he played in the minors, in Switzerland and …
https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2020/3/20/21187636/islander…

help

Claim 4: “He made his NHL debut on Halloween 1981”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results regarding the specific date of his NHL debut.

schedule

Claim 5: “served as an assistant coach for Saint Mary’s University in Canada”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 6: “Paul Boutilier, a defenseman who played five seasons with the 1980s Islanders and helped the team win a Stanley Cup, has died”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While evidence confirms Paul Boutilier is a former Islanders defenseman and Stanley Cup winner, none of the provided search results or Wikipedia entries mention his death. In fact, the Wikipedia entry describes him as a 'former professional ice hockey defenceman' without noting a death date.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1981–82 New York Islanders season was the 10th season in the franchise's history. It involved winning the Stanley Cup.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981–82_New_York_Islanders_sea…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1982–83 New York Islanders season was the 11th season in the franchise's history. It involved winning their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982–83_New_York_Islanders_sea…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Paul André Boutilier (born May 3, 1963) was a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played with several National Hockey League teams in the 1980s. He was a member of the 1983 Stanley …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Boutilier

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

Claim 7: “He would make stops with the Bruins, North Stars, Rangers and Jets”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (StatsCrew, Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame) confirm he played for the Islanders, Bruins, North Stars, Rangers, and Jets.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Paul André Boutilier is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played with several National Hockey League teams in the 1980s. He was a member of the 1983 Stanley Cup champion New Yor…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Boutilier

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Paul Boutilier scored 27 goals and recorded 83 assists in his 288-game career with the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets. He began playing du…
https://www.statscrew.com/hockey/stats/p-boutipa01

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Boutilier became a New York Ranger in 1987-88 but ended the season with Winnipeg.NHL career with NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars, and Winnipeg Jets.
https://nsshf.com/inductee/paul-boutilier/

schedule

Claim 8: “During the 1986-87 season, Boutilier played for the Bruins, North Stars and the Rangers”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 9: “He played 213 regular-season games with the Islanders during his career, along with another 36 appearances in the playoffs for the Isles”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 10: “scored his first NHL a little more than a year later on Nov. 18, 1982, at Nassau Coliseum against the Bruins”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 11: “Boutilier’s career in the NHL spanned parts of nine seasons”

CORROBORATED

StatMuse reports he played 8 seasons for 5 teams, and other sources confirm he played in the 1980s and into the 1990-91 season in Switzerland. While the exact number 'nine' is slightly varied (StatMuse says 8), the general span of his career is supported by multiple sources.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Paul Boutilier played 8 seasons for 5 teams, including the Islanders and Jets. He had 27 goals, 83 assists and a plus-minus of +1 in 288 games.
https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/player/paul-boutilier-688

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Paul Boutilier player profile, stats and championships. Born 1963-05-03 in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Last seen in the 1990-1991 season with the Zürcher SC (NLA).INTERNATIONAL. Rows Seasons. Overall. Goals.…
https://www.quanthockey.com/hockey-stats/en/profile.php?play…

schedule

Claim 12: “played for the Islanders and the CHL’s Indianapolis Checkers during the 1983-84 campaign”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 13: “He served in the role from 1991-93”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 14: “Boutilier played junior hockey in the QMJHL with the Sherbrooke Castors in 1980”

SINGLE SOURCE

The search results for this claim returned information about the Apostle Paul and a movie, not the hockey player Paul Boutilier. No evidence was found regarding the Sherbrooke Castors in 1980 in the provided text.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Paul was apparently Paul's own preference, since he always refers to himself as Paul in his letters (18 times in the letters generally regarded as written by Paul himself, and 10 more times in the oth…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Apr 17, 2026 · St. Paul the Apostle was one of the early Christian leaders and is often considered to be the most important person after Jesus in the history of Christianity. Of the 27 books of the Ne…
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Paul-the-Apostle

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mar 18, 2011 · Paul: Directed by Greg Mottola. With Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Mia Stallard. Two English comic book geeks traveling across the U.S. encounter an alien outside Area 51.
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1092026/

info

Claim 15: “the NHL Alumni Association confirmed Thursday”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided search results for NHL.com, ESPN, and CBS Sports are generic landing pages and do not contain any confirmation of a death announcement by the NHL Alumni Association.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · Live NHL scores at CBSSports.com's NHL scoreboard. Get live NHL scoring updates, postgame box scores and NHL game recaps.
https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/scoreboard/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Hardest Shots, Fastest Skaters NHL EDGE: Advanced Stats for Everyone. The next generation of advanced stats is here.
https://www.nhl.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Visit ESPN for NHL live scores, video highlights and latest news. Stream exclusive ESPN games and play Fantasy Hockey.
https://www.espn.com/nhl/

schedule

Claim 16: “then was promoted to head coach, remaining in that position until 1997”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 17: “was taken by the Islanders in the first round of the 1981 NHL Draft”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Lighthouse Hockey explicitly states that Boutilier was taken by the Islanders with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft.

info

Claim 18: “appearing in 29 regular-season games in the 1982-83 season and playing in two postseason contests”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence mentions his general career and teams, but does not provide the specific game counts (29 regular season, 2 postseason) for the 1982-83 season.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Players: Season Finder · Game Finder · Goal Finder · Streak Finder · Span Finder · …Paul Boutilier has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. How many goals did Paul Boutilier have? Paul Bouti…
https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/boutipa01.html

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — He spent the 1986-87 season with the Boston Bruins and Minnesota North Stars. Boutilier became a New York Ranger in 1987-88 but ended the season with Winnipeg. He decided to accept an offer to play in…
https://nsshf.com/inductee/paul-boutilier/

verified

Claim 19: “playing for the Islanders organization from 1981-86”

VERIFIED

The Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame explicitly states he made a permanent leap to the Islanders from 1984-1986, and other sources confirm his presence with the organization in the early 80s.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The following year Boutilier played with Indianapolis, the Islanders farm team, before making a permanent leap to the Islanders from 1984-1986. He spent the 1986-87 season with the Boston Bruins and M…
https://nsshf.com/inductee/paul-boutilier/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The New York Islanders Dynasty. Law & Owners: Special Islanders Unit. John Tavares Free Agency Encyclopedia.Boutilier (pronounced boo-til-leer) was taken by the Islanders with the final pick, 21st ove…
https://www.lighthousehockey.com/2020/3/20/21187636/islander…

schedule

Claim 20: “lacing up his skates in four games with the Blueshirts”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.