Paul Albert Bissonnette (born March 11, 1985), nicknamed "Biz Nasty", is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Phoenix Coyotes.
Bissonnette is currently a studio analyst for NHL on TNT, the analyst for the Arizona Coyotes TV/radio, and a co-host alongside former NHL defenceman Ryan Whitney on the Barstool Sports hockey podcast Spittin' Chiclets.
Early life
Paul Albert Bissonnette was born March 11, 1985, in Welland, Ontario, to parents Yolande and Cam Bissonnette. His mother was an office administration professor at Niagara College for 30 years in Southern Ontario, while his father was a steel worker. Bissonnette is French Canadian and attended French-language schools until he was in the seventh grade. He is of biracial origin, as his mother is half black. Bissonnette is a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, both prior to his professional career and since retirement.
At age 16, Bissonnette was drafted 31st overall by the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s North Bay Centennials in the 2001 OHL Priority Selection. He played in 57 games as a rookie and scored three goals and three assists. Following the 2001–02 season, the Centennials relocated and became the Saginaw Spirit.
Bissonnette was named co-captain on the Spirit and also became a member of Canada's under-18 gold medal-winning team. During the 2003 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game, Bissonnette was named Team Orr player of the game after recording a goal and fighting Dion Phaneuf.
Playing career
Early career
Bissonnette was selected in the fourth round, 121st overall, of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. When drafted, he was playing with the Saginaw Spirit of the junior OHL. During the 2003–04 season, Bissonnette served as the Spirit captain and finished ninth in points. He played another half season with the Spirit before being traded to the Owen Sound Attack, where he finished the 2004–05 season.
Professional career
Pittsburgh Penguins
Bissonnette began his professional career in 2005 with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. He appeared in 14 games for the Nailers, while also playing 55 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL). On November 12, 2005, Bissonnette received his first professional fighting major when he fought Jordan Smith of the Portland Pirates. The following season, Bissonnette played 65 games with the Nailers, while spending three with the Penguins. Bissonnette scored his first professional goal in the AHL on February 25, 2006, on goaltender Maxime Ouellet of the Manitoba Moose. The following season, Bissonnette appeared in 65 games for the Nailers, while only skating in three for the Penguins. After 22 games with the Nailers during the 2007–08 season, Bissonnette was recalled by the Penguins, where he would spend the remainder of the season. While in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, teammates Dennis Bonvie and Deryk Engelland worked with Bissonnette, often practising fighting techniques. During his time in Wheeling, he was also named to the ECHL all-star game twice.
Bissonnette earned a spot on the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster to begin the 2008–09 season. He earned his first NHL fighting major on October 16, 2008, when he fought Matt Bradley of the Washington Capitals. During the fight, Bissonnette knocked Bradley to the ice, bloodying his nose. On January 13, 2009, Bissonnette recorded his first career NHL point, assisting on a goal by Tyler Kennedy against the Philadelphia Flyers.
On May 5, 2009, during a playoff game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hershey Bears, Bissonnette was hit awkwardly by Greg Amadio and Steve Pinizzotto. He was deeply cut by the skate of one of the Hershey players on his left wrist and suffered nerve damage in his left hand.
Phoenix Coyotes
On October 1, 2009, Bissonnette was claimed on waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes after failing to make the Penguins' NHL roster out of training camp. On October 12, 2009, Bissonnette's first fight as a Coyote occurred against Jody Shelley of the San Jose Sharks. On November 12, 2009, Bissonnette scored his first of 7 NHL goals, against goaltender Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens in a 4–2 loss.
On October 5, 2011, Bissonnette signed a two-year contract extension with the Coyotes. During the 2011–12 season, on November 19, 2011, Bissonnette scored the game-winning goal, playing in front of his mother and grandparents for the first time as an NHL player. The Coyotes went on to win 4–2 over the Buffalo Sabres.