Paul Bissonnette has found work.
The unrestricted free agent better known as BizNasty signed a contract with the Cardiff Devils, the same British Elite Ice Hockey League club he played for during the 2012-13 lockout.
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The 29-year-old enforcer was not re-signed by the Arizona Coyotes after playing 39 games for the club last season, and although he landed a tryout with the St. Louis Blues this fall, he was released without a deal.
The winger is rejoining the Devils “on a temporary basis while he still looks for opportunities in the NHL,” according to the team’s announcement Friday.
“Paul got in touch with us and explained that he had already had offers from two other teams in the Elite League, but that if he was going to come back to this league, he thought he would talk to us,” said Devils managing director Todd Kelman in a statement.
Although used sparingly with the Coyotes, Bissonnette lit up the EIHL during his brief stint two years ago, scoring 19 points in 10 games. The Devils are currently sixth in the 10-team league.
“He said that he loved his time in Cardiff and was excited about coming in even on a short-term basis,” Kelman said. “It is important for our fans to understand that if Paul gets the opportunity to go back to the NHL, we will not stand in his way and he is coming here with all of us knowing full well that he could be here for a week, a month or all season.”
Bissonnette leaves the NHL having scored seven goals and 15 assists to go along with 340 penalty minutes in 202 games played with the Coyotes and Pittsburgh Penguins.
