Over the years, the NHL has been a league which people have often portrayed as stale, boring, and weak when it comes to player personalities, but that has all changed for the better thanks to one man. Paul Bissonnette, member of the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, and member of the NHL on TNT panel every Wednesday has bought his unfiltered, and free-flowing character to our television screens, and he is giving us everything we want when it comes to making players laugh, cracking jokes, and giving us an insight into the true person behind some of our favourite NHL players.
Personally for me, the NHL has had its fair share of interesting personalities, however one area in which it certainly isn't lacking is it's commentary. With the famous voice of Mike 'Doc' Emrick giving fans some of their best sporting moments, the NHL and hockey itself hasn't been short of great commentary over the years, however it has been its analysts which have let them down.
For years, we as fans were stuck with boring and straightforward interviews with players, not really getting a look into what kind of people they are. However, ever since Bissonnette got onto our screens in 2021, we have had some great moments during pregame and postgame, and he has been responsible for bringing us some of our favourite NHL personalities. Whether it is his roast battles with Brad Marchand, or whether it is his hot takes on Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks backfiring, Biz is bringing us more than we ever could of imagined from NHL coverage, and he is the breath of fresh air that hockey needed.
But, it isn't just his presence on TNT which has revitalised hockey as a sport, but his podcast with former NHL stars Ryan Whitney and Keith Yandle. Spittin' Chiclets is a place where he has really brought the best out of some of the greatest players of all time, and really seems to have the knack of getting the best out of people.
During his time with the Spittin' Chiclets boys, he has given audiences insights into the likes of Teemu Selanne, a legend of the game who often didn't portray his true personality; Michael Misa and Matthew Schaefer, these young, up and coming stars who will be on our screens for years; and the likes of Nico Sturm and Rick Tocchet, giving fans a true look at what these hard nosed coaches are really like.
In terms of the mark he has made on the hockey media, Paul Bissonnette is a true pioneer. Through being himself, his witty and unfiltered personality, he has truly changed the landscape of how fans see hockey players as people. Whether it is his podcast or on TNT, he always brings TV gold, and for years to come, it is only going to get better.