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Former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin claimed off waivers by Phoenix Coyotes.
Bissonnette
Paul Bissonnette spent Wednesday dealing with an abrupt reality.
Claimed off of waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes, the personable winger experienced a range of emotions.
Bissonnette, 24, was happy to be wanted by another team and was looking forward to the opportunity that awaits in Arizona.
But first, Bissonnette had to say goodbye to an organization where he spent the last six years. A place where he said he grew as a player and, more important, a person.
“It’s a life-changing experience. I know nothing else but this organization,” he said.
Bissonnette was drafted by Pittsburgh in the fourth round in 2003. He appeared in 55 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2005-06, but began the following season in Wheeling after management wanted to send him a wake up call.
And it was then, Bissonnette said, that he grew as a person.
“My first couple years I was partying a lot and I developed some bad habits,” he said. “It was my first time with money and living away from home, and I let it get to my head.”
Todd Richards, who was head coach of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at the time, and Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero decided to send Bissonnette to Wheeling hoping he would change his ways. For the next two years Bissonnette bounced between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Wheeling. It wasn’t until midway through the 2007-08 season that Bissonnette returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with what management had been hoping for – a new attitude.
“I changed in Wheeling and my focus was to be a professional athlete,” he said. “That’s been my main concern ever since, not how many beers I could drink or how much fun I could have. There’s a time and a place for it, but being a professional athlete comes first.”
The new attitude, coupled with a unmatched work ethic, earned Bissonnette 15 games in the NHL last season after making Pittsburgh’s opening day roster. He was on the cusp of doing it again this year until he was placed on waivers.
After being informed of the news by Shero, Bissonnette said goodbye to his Pittsburgh teammates and, when contacted Wednesday afternoon, used the opportunity to bid farewell to Wilkes-Barre.
“It’s a chance for me to reach out to the Wilkes-Barre fans and thank them,” he said. “Wilkes-Barre treated me like gold wherever I went and I made a lot of good friends along the way.”
Bissonnette said he doesn’t know any players at Phoenix, but he heard good things about several, including Aaron Downey and Shane Doan.
And for as hard as it is for Bissonnette to leave the Pittsburgh organization, he does take solace knowing he is wanted by another team.
“It’s probably one of the better feelings in the world as a pro athlete – to be wanted,” Bissonnette said. “I know what happened is part of the business, but it’s still sad to be leaving after what (the Pittsburgh organization) has done for me as a player and a person.”
NOTES
Ryan Bayda, Chris Connor, Deryk Engelland and Nate Guenin cleared waivers Wednesday and are expected to report to Wilkes-Barre today… Pittsburgh claimed former Hershey Bear Chris Bourque from Washington. Bourque is expected to stay with the NHL club.