Eric Cairns
Eric Cairns (born June 27, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and the current director of player development for the New York Islanders. He is 6 ft 6 in tall and weighed about 245 lb during his playing days.
Cairns was drafted 72nd overall by the New York Rangers in 1992. He started in the ECHL with the Charlotte Checkers, then moved up to the AHL with the Binghamton Rangers before making his NHL debut with the Rangers. In 1998, the New York Islanders claimed him off waivers, and he played six seasons with them before they did not renew his contract.
After the 2004-05 lockout, Cairns signed with the Florida Panthers as a free agent and was later traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins mid-season. His last NHL season was 2006-07 with the Penguins, during which he missed much of the year due to post-concussion syndrome and other injuries.
As a player, Cairns was known as an enforcer. He accumulated 1,117 penalty minutes along with 10 goals and 32 assists in his NHL career. He was involved in several notable rivalries and on-ice incidents, including fights with Dale Purinton and Sandy McCarthy during his Islanders years, and a well-known exchange with Theo Fleury.
In March 2005, while playing for the London Racers during a lockout, he punched a linesman, leading to a long suspension in IIHF play (the NHL later allowed him to return). Today he works as the Islanders’ director of player development.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 14:52 (CET).