Paul Bissonnette, a former NHL player known for his tough on-ice persona, found himself in an off-ice altercation over the weekend. The Barstool Sports personality and current TNT NHL studio analyst ended up in a brawl at a restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona. Bissonnette, who is no stranger to physical confrontations from his hockey days, was forced to defend himself at Houston’s restaurant on Sunday night after an incident escalated beyond his control.
According to multiple reports, the altercation took place around 7:30 p.m. local time at Houston’s, a popular Scottsdale establishment. Scottsdale Police responded to the scene, and six men were subsequently arrested for assault and disorderly conduct, according to Fox 10. Bissonnette was reportedly trying to defuse a tense situation involving the management of the restaurant and a group of unruly patrons.
“There was an altercation inside the restaurant with six adult men and the management. Reportedly, Paul Bissonnette tried to help management calm the men and get them to leave. The situation escalated to the men assaulting Paul Bissonnette both inside and outside of the restaurant,” Scottsdale Police Sgt. Allison Sempsis told Fox 10.
The six individuals involved in the altercation are facing different charges—five are charged with misdemeanors, while one of them faces a felony. Fortunately, Bissonnette’s injuries were reported as non-life-threatening. He was taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out but did not require extended medical treatment.
Further details about the incident were not immediately available from authorities, but Bissonnette took to social media late Monday night to explain what had transpired. In a video statement, Bissonnette explained that he had noticed a group of what he called “drunk golfers” causing trouble for the restaurant staff. When he saw one of the men getting into the face of a manager, he decided to intervene in hopes of calming the situation.
“These guys were being belligerent with the Houston’s staff, and it was just getting out of hand,” Bissonnette said. “At one point, one of them got right in the manager’s face. That’s when I stepped in, trying to de-escalate things, but it just turned into a full-on brawl that spilled from inside the restaurant out into the parking lot.”
RELATED: NHL Player Borrows Stranger’s Car for Late-Night McDonald’s Adventure
Although the Scottsdale Police reported that six individuals were involved, Bissonnette insisted that there were actually seven people in the group. He described them as “bad dudes,” noting that they were heavily intoxicated and possibly under the influence of other substances as well.
“Just bad dudes. Way too drunk, and I don’t know what else they had in their system. I’m very, very angry at these guys and kind of want their names out there, and kind of want them to pay the piper,” Bissonnette said in his video. “Unacceptable behavior at a family restaurant just because they couldn’t grab another cocktail and didn’t want to hear ‘no’ for an answer. At that point, with the guy all over the manager, I just figured I had to go over. Took some, gave more.”
Bissonnette, who is no stranger to physicality, played for the Phoenix Coyotes from 2009 to 2014, appearing in 187 NHL games for the franchise. During his time in the league, he was known as an enforcer, accumulating seven goals and 14 assists while defending his teammates on the ice. The Coyotes, who have since relocated to Utah ahead of the 2024-25 NHL season, were where Bissonnette made his mark as a player.
Since retiring from professional hockey, Bissonnette has found considerable success in the media world. He co-hosts the immensely popular “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, which has become a favorite among hockey fans for its candid interviews and entertaining hockey discussions.
His work on the podcast helped elevate his profile, ultimately leading to his role as a studio analyst for TNT’s national hockey broadcasts. Bissonnette had also previously worked as an analyst for the Coyotes’ local broadcasts before the team’s relocation.
The altercation at Houston’s may have been an unfortunate incident, but it also demonstrated Bissonnette’s instinct to protect others, something that was part of his role on the ice for years.
Despite the physical confrontation, Bissonnette appears to be in good spirits, and his fans have expressed their support for him on social media.
The hockey community knows that Bissonnette is tough enough to handle himself both on and off the rink, and this latest episode is a testament to his enduring willingness to step in when the situation calls for it.
