If you’ve spent five minutes in a hockey rink lately or scrolled through sports Twitter during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, you’ve seen him. Maybe it was a clip of a guy in a sharp suit on TNT getting roasted by Wayne Gretzky. Or perhaps you saw a video of a massive man in a Speedo doing a "Sandbagger" golf challenge. That’s Paul Bissonnette. But most people just call him "Biz" or "Biz Nasty."
Honestly, it’s a bit of a weird career arc. Most retired NHL players go quietly into the night, maybe coaching a Triple-A team in Ontario or selling insurance. Bissonnette did the opposite. He took a career where he basically got punched in the face for a living and turned it into a media empire. He’s currently the most influential person in hockey media, and it’s not even particularly close.
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Paul Bissonnette: The Enforcer Days
Before the podcasts and the vodka deals, Bissonnette was a grinder. He was drafted 121st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins back in 2003. At the time, he was a defenseman. Eventually, he transitioned to forward because, well, that’s where the hitting and fighting happened.
He wasn't a star. Not even close.
In the NHL, he played 202 games across six seasons, mostly for the Phoenix Coyotes. His stat line is... modest. He finished his career with 7 goals and 15 assists. For context, some guys score that many goals in a single month. But Biz wasn't there to score. He was there to protect the stars and keep the other team honest. He racked up 340 penalty minutes, which tells you everything you need to know about his role.
He was the classic "glue guy." He knew he was the 13th forward. He knew he was one bad game away from being sent back to the minors. That self-awareness is actually what made him famous. While other players were giving boring, scripted interviews about "getting pucks deep," Bissonnette was on Twitter (back when it was still called that) making fun of himself. He’d joke about his lack of ice time or how he spent most of the game sitting on the bench.
The Biz Nasty Persona
The "Biz Nasty" nickname isn't just a handle; it’s a brand. He started "Biz Nasty 2.0" after getting in a bit of hot water with his original account. His agent actually called him once, terrified that the NHL would void his contract because of his unfiltered tweets.
He was a pioneer. He was the first NHL player to actually show a personality on social media. Fans loved it because he felt like one of them—a guy who just happened to be good enough at hockey to get a front-row seat to the show.
Why Paul Bissonnette Still Matters in 2026
You might wonder why a guy with seven career goals is sitting on a panel with the "Great One" on national television. It’s because Bissonnette fixed a problem the NHL has had for decades: it was boring.
Hockey players are notoriously robotic. They are trained from age five to never say anything controversial. Biz broke that mold. He brought the "locker room talk"—the chirping, the stories, the genuine camaraderie—to the masses.
The Spittin' Chiclets Phenomenon
In 2018, Bissonnette officially joined Ryan Whitney and Brian "Rear Admiral" McGonagle on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast. It changed everything.
The podcast is a juggernaut. It’s consistently at the top of the sports charts, and it’s not just because they talk about power plays. It’s because players actually feel comfortable talking to them. When Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid goes on Chiclets, you hear a version of them you don't see anywhere else.
This success led to:
- Pink Whitney: A pink lemonade-flavored vodka that basically took over every college bar in North America. It started as a joke on the pod and turned into a $100 million-a-year business.
- Big Deal Brewing: A partnership with Labatt that launched in 2022.
- Greensboro Gargoyles: Biz and the crew even bought into an ECHL team recently.
The Transition to TNT Analyst
When TNT got the NHL rights in 2021, they made a massive bet. They hired Bissonnette to be their "wild card" analyst. It worked.
He’s the perfect foil for the more serious analysts like Anson Carter or Rick Tocchet (before Tocchet went back to coaching). He isn't afraid to look like a fool. He’ll wear a ridiculous costume, lose a bet that requires him to shave his head, or engage in a heated (but funny) debate with Brad Marchand.
He’s the "everyman" who happens to know the game inside and out. He understands the mechanics of a fourth-line grind because he lived it. He brings a level of empathy for the "fringe" players that stars like Gretzky simply can't, because Gretzky never had to worry about being cut.
Facing the Critics
It hasn't all been smooth sailing. Bissonnette's humor is, as he puts it, "aggressive." He’s had his fair share of "cancel culture" scares and has been criticized for being too "Barstool" for the mainstream.
He’s been open about his struggles, too. He’s talked about the anxiety that comes with being a public figure and the lingering effects of the concussions he sustained during his fighting days. That vulnerability is part of why his fanbase is so loyal. He’s not a polished corporate product; he’s a guy trying to figure it out, just like everyone else.
What Really Happened with the National Emergency?
One of the more recent viral moments involving Paul Bissonnette happened during the lead-up to the 4 Nations Face-Off. Biz, being the ultimate Canadian homer, declared that it would be a "national emergency" if Canada lost to the USA.
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Fox News actually picked up the story and called him an "Ex-Team Canada star."
The internet, specifically X (Twitter) Community Notes, had a field day with that. They pointed out that while he played for Canada as a teenager in the U18s, calling him a "Team Canada star" was a massive stretch. Biz, true to form, leaned into the joke. He knows his place in the hockey pantheon. He’s the first to tell you he wasn't a star on the ice—he just plays one on TV.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Creators
If you’re looking at Bissonnette's career as a blueprint, there are a few things to keep in mind. He didn't succeed because he was the best player; he succeeded because he was the most authentic.
- Leaning into your "lack": Biz turned his lack of scoring into a comedy routine. He didn't pretend to be McDavid. He embraced being Biz.
- Ownership over Influence: He didn't just take sponsorship checks; he helped create brands like Pink Whitney.
- Cross-Platform Consistency: Whether he’s on a podcast, a broadcast, or a golf course, he’s the same guy. Fans hate a "character" that feels fake.
If you want to follow his journey, the best way is to catch him on Spittin' Chiclets every Tuesday or on the TNT Wednesday night broadcasts. Just don't expect him to talk much about his own career stats—unless he's making a joke about his "seven snipes."
To keep up with the latest in hockey culture, check out the Chiclets Game Notes or follow the "Sandbagger Invitational" series on YouTube to see how the pros actually act when the cameras aren't "officially" rolling.