Sunday 26 October 2014

{coyotes} Paul 'BizNasty' Bissonnette to sign with Coyotes AHL affiliate

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NHL forward and social media celebrity Paul Bissonnette has been looking for work since his contract expired with the Arizona Coyotes after last season. He tried out with the St. Louis Blues, but didn't make the cut and has remained a free agent. The veteran better known as BizNasty will be back to work soon, though.

Just days after it was announced that Bissonnette had signed with the Cardiff Devils in Wales, the EIHL club announced that the NHL enforcer was no longer coming as he had signed an AHL deal. According to Craig Morgan of Fox Sports Arizona, that deal is with the Coyotes' American Hockey League affiliate.

Paul 'BizNasty' Bissonnette to sign with Coyotes AHL affiliate

By Chris Peters | Hockey Writer

October 26, 2014 3:58 pm ET

Paul Bissonnette will be staying in North America as he'll sign an AHL contract. (USATSI)

It's interesting that Bissonnette will be back within the Coyotes organization, even if it's only on an AHL deal. Perhaps the announced deal Bissonnette had with Cardiff triggered the team to find a way to keep him close just in case.

After spending the last five seasons as the enforcer for the Coyotes, Bissonnette was not replaced as many teams have moved away from the designated fighter role.

Since he's on an AHL contract, Bissonnette is not eligible to be called up to the NHL team like other players would be, but if the Coyotes wanted him to come back, it would be a lot easier to make it happen than if he were in Wales.

Cardiff, which was the team Bissonnette played for during the NHL lockout in 2012, says there's no hard feelings despite losing out on a player that gained popularity with the local fans during his first stint with the club.

"I just heard from Paul (Sunday) prior to our game and he explained that he has been offered a deal in the American Hockey League that he hopes will lead to an NHL deal later this season," said Devils director Todd Kelman in a statement (via the Score). "I told him that I was happy for him that he is getting a chance to get back to the NHL and as much as we are disappointed, we wish him success."

Bissonnette has appeared in 202 NHL games. He has 22 career points and 340 penalty minutes.

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