Former NHL enforcer Paul Bissonnette is known for handling himself on the ice, but his latest fight took place in a far different setting — a restaurant bar. The popular Spittin' Chiclets podcast co-host and TNT analyst found himself in a chaotic brawl on Sunday, leading to a hospital visit and a viral story that's grabbed plenty of attention.
Videos by FanBuzz
Bissonnette, never one to back down from telling it like it is, shared details of the ordeal on Monday. What started as an attempt to diffuse a confrontation between the restaurant staff and an unruly group of patrons quickly turned into an all-out melee.
"I think it was seven guys that I fought with throughout the course of the restaurant, all the way into the parking lot, over to CVS," Bissonnette explained. "Got taken down a couple times. I got bootf***** in the head three times. Luckily didn't get knocked out."
The confrontation began when one of the individuals allegedly put his hands on a restaurant manager. Bissonnette, spotting the commotion, stepped in to de-escalate. But things went south fast.
"I just grabbed the guy's arm that was on him," Bissonnette said. "I said, 'Sir, if you continue to harass and assault the staff, we're gonna have problems.' And then they just started chucking. It escalated extremely quickly."
The fight spilled out of the restaurant and into the parking lot, where Bissonnette found himself outnumbered but unwilling to back down.
Despite taking some hits, Bissonnette made it clear he's OK. Sporting visible bumps and bruises, he assured fans that he's on the mend, thanks to prompt medical attention at the scene and later at the hospital.
"All's good, guys. It sucks. I got bootf***** in the face a couple times. But could have been a lot worse," he said.
Adding a classic Bissonnette touch, he kept things lighthearted, promoting an upcoming podcast episode with Jeff Marek and Bruce Boudreau while expressing gratitude to the hockey community.
Meanwhile, law enforcement reportedly stepped in, and six of the seven individuals involved were arrested. Bissonnette didn't mince words about his feelings toward them.
"These guys, just bad dudes. Way too drunk and I don't know what else they had in their system," he said. "Just unacceptable behavior at a family restaurant, just because they couldn't grab another cocktail and didn't want to hear 'No' for an answer."
All of the suspects have been arrested and identified.
If you know anything about Bissonnette, this story feels par for the course. He's not just a personality; he's someone who stands up when it matters. Whether it's on the ice, in the studio, or now at a restaurant bar, the guy doesn't shy away from a challenge.
The bumps and bruises? Just another chapter in the life of "Biz Nasty."
