On Monday, the Portland Pirates announced the signing of forward Paul Bissonnette to an AHL Professional Tryout Contract. The six-year NHL veteran will join the team later this week.
Bissonnette, a 6-foot-3, 220 pound left wing from Welland, Ontario, joins the Pirates after spending the last five seasons with the Arizona Coyotes. While with the Coyotes, Bissonnette played 187 games, recording seven goals, 14 assists, 21 points and totaling 318 penalty minutes. He’s also appeared in four playoff games with the Coyotes, collecting 15 minutes in penalties.
Originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Bissonnette made his NHL debut with Pittsburgh during the 2008-09 season, playing 15 games and recording one assist and 22 penalty minutes.
The 29 year-old has not played in the AHL since the 2008-09 season. Bissonnette has played in a total of 161 regular season AHL games between 2005 and 2009, all with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Bissonnette totaled 13-17-30 and 387 penalty minutes. He also played 26 Calder Cup Playoff games with the Penguins, notching three assists and three points, along with 24 penalty minutes.
An AHL Professional Tryout Contract allows for a player to compete in up to 25 AHL games.
