COYOTES

Bissonnette rejoins Coyotes organization on AHL tryout

Sarah McLellan
azcentral sports
Phoenix Coyotes' Paul Bissonnette (12) takes away the stick of Minnesota Wild's Matt Cooke and then throws it into the Coyotes bench in the 2nd period during NHL hockey action in Glendale.

TAMPA -- Longtime Coyotes fan-favorite Paul Bissonnette signed a professional tryout contract with the team's American Hockey League affiliate Monday.

"He's a good man," coach Dave Tippett said. "It's just the way the league's going right now. But I love his enthusiasm. He's jumping in. He wants to work his way back in. I had the chance to talk to him the other night, and he's enthused. The other thing (that) was good to see (was) his teammates here were really happy for him, so we'll see where it goes."

Bissonnette joined the Coyotes in 2009 but was not re-signed after last season, becoming a free agent. He went unsigned during the summer and recently agreed to go play in the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom. Bissonnette backed out of that deal once securing this offer from the Portland Pirates which allows Bissonnette to compete in up to 25 games.

Bissonnette had been skating with the Niagara Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League after he was cut from the St. Louis Blues training camp which he attended on a tryout basis.

Last season, he recorded a career-high eight points in 39 games with the Coyotes. In total, he's played in 187 games with the franchise, posting seven goals, 21 points and 318 penalty minutes.

"It's awesome for him, and I've been talking to him all the time obviously seeing where he's at," defenseman Keith Yandle said. "It's one of those things you never like to see a guy without a job, but you're always rooting for him -- especially when you play with him. You know what he can bring to a team, in the locker room, and I'm glad he's signed with us and hopefully he can be up here in no time."