Paul Bissonnette

Paul Bissonnette was born on March 11, 1985, in Welland, Ontario, Canada. His journey in ice hockey began early, with the North Bay Centennials of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) selecting him 31st overall in the 2001 OHL Priority Selection. He continued his junior career with the Saginaw Spirit, serving as co-captain and contributing to Canada’s under-18 team, which won gold medals at the 2003 Nations Cup. His performance during the 2003 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game earned him player of the game honors for Team Orr after recording a goal and engaging in a fight.

Bissonnette’s professional career began after being drafted 121st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fourth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his early professional years between the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers and the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2008–09 season, recording his first NHL point on January 13, 2009. In 2009, he was claimed off waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes, where he played for several seasons, scoring his first NHL goal on November 12, 2009, against the Montreal Canadiens. During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Bissonnette played for the Cardiff Devils in the British Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL), recording 21 points in 10 games. He later signed with the Manchester Monarchs (AHL) in 2014, where he won the Calder Cup in 2015.

After retiring from professional play in 2017, Bissonnette transitioned into a successful media career. He joined the Arizona Coyotes’ radio booth as a color commentator and became a co-host of the popular Barstool Sports hockey podcast, “Spittin’ Chiclets,” alongside former teammate Ryan Whitney. In 2021, he joined Turner Sports as a pregame and intermission analyst for NHL on TNT, working alongside notable figures like Wayne Gretzky. His media work has included creating “BizNasty Does BC,” a mockumentary series featuring NHL stars, and participating in golf events like the Sandbagger Invitationals.