The New York Islanders hire former Stanley Cup champion Pascal Dupuis as director of player development, the team announces. The appointment makes Dupuis responsible for overseeing the organization’s next generation of talent. Yahoo Sports reports that the role follows the departure of Eric Cairns and that Dupuis joins the club’s player development staff under general manager Mathieu Darche. Dupuis is 47. In recent seasons, he works in the front office of the Shawinigan Cataractes, a junior hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, spending the past three seasons there. According to Yahoo Sports, Dupuis has been associated with the Cataractes for six years in various capacities after becoming a co-owner. The Winnipeg Free Press and New York Post both report the hire, and the New York Post describes Dupuis as bringing experience across multiple parts of running an organization. The team statement frames the move as part of shaping and guiding the Islanders’ prospects and development pipeline.