Paul Bissonnette

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Paul Bissonnette

| image = Paul Bissonnette sporting the Zappa.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Bissonnette with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2010

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|3|11}}

| birth_place = Welland, Ontario, Canada

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 216

| position = Left wing

| shoots = Left

| played_for = Pittsburgh Penguins
Phoenix Coyotes
Cardiff Devils

| draft = 121st overall

| draft_year = 2003

| draft_team = Pittsburgh Penguins

| career_start = 2005

| career_end = 2017

}}

Paul Albert Bissonnette{{cite tweet |user=BigNasty2point0 |number=101803374411923456 |date= August 11, 2011|title=No ones going to guess my middle name. It's Albert, yes Albert. So next question is who was my first NHL game against? }} (born March 11, 1985), nicknamed "Biz Nasty",{{cite web|last1=Boivin|first1=Paola|title=Phoenix Coyotes' Paul 'Bignasty' Bissonnette proves players willing to bite back online|url=http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/20130816phoenix-coyotes-paul-bignasty-bissonnette-proves-players-willing-bite-back-online.html|publisher=12 News & The Arizona Republic|access-date=July 23, 2014}} 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

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.{{cite news|last1=Fitz-Gerald|first1=Sean|title=Mom wishes Paul Bissonnette's Twitter feed had cleaner … grammar|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/hockey/nhl/mom-wishes-paul-bissonnettes-twitter-feed-had-cleaner-grammar|access-date=May 1, 2018|publisher=National Post|date=November 18, 2011}} Bissonnette is French Canadian and attended French-language schools until he was in grade seven. He is of biracial origin, as his mother is half black.{{cite tweet |last=Bissonnette |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Bissonnette |user=BizNasty2point0 |number=1182024172425207808 |date=October 9, 2019 |title=I'm biracial. My mother Yolande is half black. Please do research before typing next time. Thanks. |access-date=May 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514013102/https://twitter.com/BizNasty2point0/status/1182024172425207808 |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite tweet |last=Bissonnette |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Bissonnette |user=BizNasty2point0 |number=867079821091684352 |date=May 23, 2017 |title=I know. To my defense I'm French Canadian and started going to English speaking School in 7th grade. Spelling is my kryptonite.|access-date=May 31, 2021}} Bissonnette is a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, both prior to his professional career and since retirement.{{cite episode |title=Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs |series=Hockey Night in Canada |network=CBC Television |date=9 April 2022}}

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 team that won gold medals at the 2003 Nations Cup. 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.{{cite web |title=Fritsche goal caps Cherry comeback in Home Hardware CHL Top Prospects Game |url=http://chl.ca/fritsche-goal-caps-cherry-comeback-in-home-hardware-chl-top-prospects-game |website=CHL |date=January 22, 2003 |access-date=January 22, 2003}}

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 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.{{cite news |last1=Chalk |first1=Dan |title=Spirit trade Bissonnette |url=https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Spirit-trade-Bissonnette-7061627.php |website=Midland Daily News |access-date=November 24, 2004}}

=Professional career=

==Pittsburgh Penguins==

Bissonnette began his professional career during the 2005–06 season 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 only skating in three with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Bissonnette scored his first professional goal in the AHL on February 25, 2006, on goaltender Maxime Ouellet of the Manitoba Moose. After 22 games with the Nailers during the 2007–08 season, Bissonnette was recalled by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he would spend the remainder of the season. While in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, teammates Dennis Bonvie and Deryk Engelland worked with Bissonnette, often practicing fighting techniques. During his time in Wheeling, he was also named to the ECHL all-star game twice.

Bissonnette earned a spot on Pittsburgh's 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, during a playoff game between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and the Hershey Bears, Bissonnette was hit awkwardly by Greg Amadio and Steve Pinizzotto. He was deeply cut by the skate of one of Hershey's players on his left wrist and suffered nerve damage in his left hand.{{Cite web |author =Bombulie, Jonathan |title =Ins and Outs of Playoff Hockey – Penguins Insider – Community Server |url =http://community.citizensvoice.com/blogs/penguins/archive/2009/05/07/ins-and-outs-of-playoff-hockey.aspx |access-date =July 9, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

==Phoenix Coyotes==

On October 1, 2009, Bissonnette was claimed off waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes after failing to make the Penguins' NHL roster out of training camp.{{cite web |last1=Bernreuter |first1=Hugh |title=Phoenix Coyotes claim Paul Bissonnette off waivers |url=https://www.mlive.com/spirit/2009/10/phoenix_coyotes_claim_paul_bis.html |website=mlive |access-date=November 22, 2023 |date=October 1, 2009}} On October 12, Bissonnette's first fight as a Coyote occurred against Jody Shelley of the San Jose Sharks. On November 12, he scored his first of seven NHL goals, against goaltender Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens in a 4–2 loss.{{cite web |title=Canadiens snap two-game skid with win over Coyotes |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/291112024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122154652/https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/291112024 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 22, 2023 |website=ESPN |access-date=November 22, 2023 |date=November 12, 2009}}

On October 5, 2011, Bissonnette signed a two-year contract extension with the Coyotes.{{cite web |title=Coyotes extend Paul Bissonnette |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/7064490/paul-bissonnette-phoenix-coyotes-signs-two-year-contract-extension |website=ESPN.com |access-date=November 22, 2023 |date=October 5, 2011}} During the 2011–12 season, on November 19, 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.{{cite web |title=Radim Vrbata, Paul Bissonnette score 66 seconds apart to sink Sabres |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/400047434 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122154652/https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/400047434 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 22, 2023 |website=ESPN |access-date=November 22, 2023 |date=November 19, 2011}}

With the 2012–13 NHL lock-out in effect, on November 1, 2012, Bissonnette signed with the Cardiff Devils of the British Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).{{cite web| url = http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/sports-news-round-up/2012/11/01/ice-hockey-nhl-defenceman-paul-bissonnette-joins-cardiff-devils-91466-32148533/ | title = NHL player Paul Bissonnette joins Cardiff Devils | publisher = Wales Online | date = 2012-11-01 | access-date = 2012-11-01}} In 10 games for Cardiff, Bissonnette recorded six goals and 15 assists for 21 points before returning to the Coyotes.

==Various teams==

Bissonnette left the Coyotes' organization after five seasons following the 2013–14 season. On September 16, 2014, he accepted a tryout agreement from the St. Louis Blues to attend their training camp.{{cite web |last1=Peters |first1=Chris |title=Paul 'BizNasty' Bissonnette earns tryout invite from Blues |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/paul-biznasty-bissonnette-earns-tryout-invite-from-blues/ |website=CBS Sports |date=September 16, 2014 |access-date=September 16, 2014}} After playing the entirety of the pre-season, Bissonnette was released from his tryout on October 4.{{cite web |last1=Rutherford |first1=Jeremy |title=Blues release Bissonnette from tryout |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/morning-skate/blues-release-bissonnette-from-tryout/article_bbe8da65-d362-57a9-8d8f-78523ce22d63.html |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=October 4, 2014 |access-date=October 4, 2014}} A few weeks later, on October 24, Bissonnette returned to the Cardiff Devils of the EIHL. He re-joined the team "on a temporary basis while he still looks for opportunities in the NHL".{{cite web |title=Bissonnette signs with Britain's Devils |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/paul-bissonnette-signs-cardiff-devils-eihl-biznasty/ |website=Sportsnet |access-date=October 24, 2014}} Bissonnette returned to the Coyotes' organization just three days later on October 27, when he signed a professional tryout agreement with the club's AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates.{{cite web |last1=McLellan |first1=Sarah |title=Paul Bissonnette returning to Coyotes organization |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2014/10/27/paul-bissonnette-ahl-deal-coyotes-portland-pirates/18037241/ |website=USA Today |access-date=October 27, 2014}} After just eight games, Bissonnette was released from his tryout on December 9.{{cite web |last1=Silverman |first1=Catherine |title=Bidding Biznasty Farewell: Paul Bissonnette Released From PTO |url=https://howlinhockey.com/2014/12/08/bidding-biznasty-farewell-paul-bissonnette-released-pto/ |website=Howlin' Hockey |access-date=December 8, 2014|date=December 8, 2014 }}

==Manchester Monarchs/Ontario Reign==

On the same day, Bissonnette signed a tryout agreement with the Manchester Monarchs, the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings.{{cite web |title=Monarchs Sign Bissonnette to PTO |url=http://manchestermonarchs.com/news/?article_id=482 |website=Manchester Monarchs |access-date=December 9, 2014 |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918123603/http://manchestermonarchs.com/news/?article_id=482 |url-status=dead }} After 19 games, on February 3, 2015, the Monarchs signed Bissonnette to a standard AHL contract for the remainder of the season.{{cite web |title=Monarchs Sign Bissonnette to AHL Contract |url=http://www.manchestermonarchs.com/news/?article_id=540 |website=Manchester Monarchs |access-date=February 3, 2015}} Bissonnette and the Monarchs won the Calder Cup after defeating the Utica Comets in five games.{{cite web |title=AT LAST, MONARCHS RULE THE AHL |url=https://theahl.com/at-last-monarchs-rule-the-ahl |website=AHL |date=June 13, 2015 |access-date=June 13, 2015}}

With the Monarchs moving to the ECHL, the team was replaced by the Ontario Reign as the Kings' AHL affiliate.{{cite news |last1=Clinton |first1=Jared |title=ECHL WILL REPLACE THREE RELOCATED AHL TEAMS IN 2015-16 |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/echl-will-replace-three-relocated-ahl-teams-in-2015-16 |website=The Hockey News |access-date=January 30, 2015|date=January 30, 2015 }} On July 8, 2015, the Reign signed Bissonnette to a one-year contract.{{Cite web|url = http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/08/bissonnette-signs-a-one-year-one-way-deal-with-kings-affiliate/|title = Bissonnette signs a one-year, one-way deal with Kings' affiliate|date = July 8, 2015|access-date = July 8, 2015| website = NBC Sports|last = Mahiban|first = Dhiren}} He played 35 games for the team during the 2015–16 season. On July 6, 2016, he returned to the Reign after signing a one-year extension.{{cite web |title=BISSONNETTE RETURNING TO REIGN |url=https://theahl.com/bissonnette-returning-to-reign |website=AHL |date=July 6, 2016 |access-date=July 6, 2016}}

Post-playing career

On June 24, 2017, it was announced that Bissonnette would join the Coyotes' radio booth as a color commentator, replacing Nick Boynton.{{cite web |title=Paul Bissonnette to join Coyotes radio broadcast team |url=http://arizonasports.com/story/1157438/bissonnette-paul-coyotes-radio-broadcasts/ |website=Arizona Sports 98.7 FM |access-date=June 24, 2017|date=June 24, 2017 }} On September 7, Bissonnette officially confirmed his retirement from professional ice hockey.{{cite web |last1=Bissonnette |first1=Paul |title=Well. That's all she wrote. |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BYv1F-bjMsh/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BYv1F-bjMsh |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=limited|website=Instagram |access-date=September 7, 2017}}{{cbignore}}

On April 11, 2018, Bissonnette was announced as a new member of the Barstool Sports' podcast, Spittin' Chiclets, joining former Penguins' teammate Ryan Whitney.{{cite web |last1=Grinnell |first1=Mike |title=BREAKING NEWS: BIG NASTY IS JOINING SPITTIN' CHICLETS |url=https://www.barstoolsports.com/boston/breaking-news-big-nasty-is-joining-spittin-chiclets |website=Barstool Sports |access-date=April 11, 2018}} On May 14, Bissonnette released a mockumentary series named BizNasty Does BC, which he co-created with Pasha Eshghi. The series features 17 past and present NHL stars and shows off the beauty of the province of British Columbia.{{cite web |title=Bissonnette's new mockumentary aims to show lighter side of NHL players |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/bissonnettes-new-mockumentary-aims-show-lighter-side-nhl/ |website=SportsNet|access-date=February 26, 2019}}

In February 2019, Bissonnette partnered with CaniBrands,CaniBrands Goes Live to 550K Listeners on Barstool Sports [https://www.canibrands.com/canibrands-goes-live-to-550k-listeners-on-barstool-sports/] Retrieved, 2018. a CBD health and wellness company as the company's Sports and Media Ambassador.{{cite web| title=CaniBrands Expands Reach with New Products and Influencers|date=July 6, 2020 |url=https://www.canibrands.com/canibrands-expands-reach-with-new-products-and-influencers/ |access-date=July 6, 2020}}

In 2021, Turner Sports announced that Bissonnette would be joining the company as a pregame and intermission analyst for the NHL on TNT, alongside Wayne Gretzky, Anson Carter, and Rick Tocchet.

In November 2024, Bissonnette was assaulted by six men at a Houston's Restaurant in Scottsdale; the men were quickly arrested on charges of assault and disorderly conduct.{{cite web |last1=Cantlon |first1=Kyle |title=Last week in the NHL: Bissonnette assaulted in Arizona, Macklin Celebrini has officially arrived, an own-goal for the ages |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/last-week-in-the-nhl-bissonnette-assaulted-in-arizona-macklin-celebrini-has-officially-arrived-an-own-goal-for-the-ages-190813611.html |publisher=Yahoo |access-date=3 December 2024}} Days later, Bissonnette recounted what occurred on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, saying it began inside the restaurant, escalated to the parking lot and ended with him taking refuge in a CVS.{{cite web |title=TNT analyst Paul Bissonnette describes restaurant brawl with 'four guys swinging at me' |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/tnt-analyst-paul-bissonnette-describes-restaurant-brawl-with-four-guys-swinging-at-me/ |publisher=Sportsnet |access-date=3 December 2024}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2001–02

|North Bay Centennials

|OHL

|57

|21

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2002–03

|Saginaw Spirit

|OHL

|67

|16

|23

|57

| —

2003–04

|Saginaw Spirit

|OHL

|67

|14

|19

|96

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2004–05

|Saginaw Spirit

|OHL

|28

|46

| —

2004–05

|Owen Sound Attack

|OHL

|35

|11

|13

|46

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2005–06

|Wheeling Nailers

|ECHL

|14

|10

| —

2005–06

|Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins

|AHL

|55

|60

|11

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2006–07

|Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins

|AHL

| —

2006–07

|Wheeling Nailers

|ECHL

|65

|10

|32

|42

|115

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2007–08

|Wheeling Nailers

|ECHL

|22

|14

|17

|43

| —

2007–08

|Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins

|AHL

|46

|145

|11

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2008–09

|Pittsburgh Penguins

|NHL

|15

|22

| —

2008–09

|Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins

|AHL

|57

|16

|176

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2009–10

| Phoenix Coyotes

| NHL

| 41

| 3

| 2

| 5

| 117

| —

2010–11

| Phoenix Coyotes

| NHL

| 48

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 71

| 1

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2011–12

| Phoenix Coyotes

| NHL

| 31

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 41

| 3

| 0

| 15

2012–13

|Cardiff Devils

|EIHL

|11

|15

|21

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2012–13

| Phoenix Coyotes

| NHL

| 28

| 0

| 6

| 36

| —

2013–14

| Phoenix Coyotes

| NHL

| 39

| 2

| 6

| 8

| 53

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2014–15

| Portland Pirates

| AHL

| 8

| 0

| —

2014–15

| Manchester Monarchs

| AHL

| 48

| 1

| 6

| 7

| 167

| 11

| 0

| 5

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2015–16

| Ontario Reign

| AHL

| 35

| 2

| 1

| 3

| 51

| 13

| 1

| 2

| 17

2016–17

| Ontario Reign

| AHL

| 18

| 0

| 3

| 48

| —

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | AHL totals

! 270

! 16

! 27

! 43

! 653

! 50

! 1

! 4

! 5

! 46

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 202

! 7

! 15

! 22

! 340

! 4

! 0

! 15

=International=

{{MedalCountry | {{ih|CAN}} }}

{{MedalBottom

}}

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"

ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! Result

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2002

| Canada

| U18

| {{gold1}}

| 5

| 0

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2003

| Canada

| WJC18

| {{gold1}}

| 7

| 0

| 1

| 0

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Junior totals

! 12

! 0

! 1

! 2

Awards and honours

class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! Ref
colspan="3"\|ECHL
All-Star Game \| 2007 \|
colspan="3"\|AHL
Calder Cup champion \| 2015 \| {{Cite web\| url = http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=770813 \| title = Manchester defeats Utica to win Calder Cup \| publisher = National Hockey League \| date = 2015-06-19 \| access-date = 2015-06-19}}

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

! Ref

colspan="3"|ECHL

All-Star Game

| 2007

colspan="3"|AHL

Calder Cup champion

| 2015

| {{Cite web| url = http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=770813 | title = Manchester defeats Utica to win Calder Cup | publisher = National Hockey League | date = 2015-06-19 | access-date = 2015-06-19}}