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Paul Bissonnette talks Olympics, DraftKings, potential Coyotes return
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- Paul Bissonnette talks Olympics, DraftKings, potential Coyotes return
NHL analyst and former Arizona Coyotes forward Paul Bissonnette spoke to The Arizona Republic on Wednesday, Feb. 11, during the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Bissonnette — who played with the Coyotes from 2009-14 — dived into his partnership with DraftKings during the Olympics and talked about the medal favorites in the Feb. 12-22 men's hockey tournament.
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Bissonnette also discussed his thoughts on the potential return of the NHL to Arizona.
(Answers lightly edited for brevity.)
Question: What trends have you seen at DraftKings so far in the Olympics?
Answer: More of the money right now is (Canada or U.S.), and 94% of the overall money is on either Canada or U.S. Canada's at +125 and the U.S. is +175, but more of the money is actually being put on the United States. ... Just crazy to see where the American game has grown to and how deep they are. A lot of people would say they're better in net and better in defense. I think Canada has the edge up front, but it's amazing to see the parity in our game, and not just with the usual suspects.
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Who are your favorites for the gold medal game?
Canada and the U.S. is essentially a coin flip if they meet in the finals. I would say even the same for Sweden. Anything other than that, I would heavily favor those two teams (Canada and U.S.) if they're meeting anybody else moving forward. ... My opinion might change as the tournament progresses. One quick win here, one quick loss here could change things, including the odds at DraftKings.
Who would you say is a dark horse outside of the U.S. and Canada?
I wouldn't put them as a dark horse, but I always think Sweden. They play so good as a team and their systems are a mix between gritty, physical and great pace, but yet they have the skill to compete. I would say they have the most impressive lineup as opposed to Canada and U.S. Also, they have great juice. They're a +650 currently and only 2% of the money is going to them.
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You've known Clayton Keller for a long time, dating back to his rookie season with the Coyotes in 2017. What have you noticed about his journey to Team USA?
I am so happy for him, especially with what he's dealt with off the ice this season in the passing of his father, who was so instrumental in his career. I can't tell you how many times he would be at games. They're from St. Louis , and he would constantly travel to Arizona just to be there and to watch him play. You can tell how much it affected Clayton.
Going back to the beginning, when he was drafted to Arizona, he was nominated for the Calder (top rookie award) and was third in voting. There was a little bit of a regression in that second year, and sometimes, people would make excuses or sulk, but he's the complete opposite. He just dedicated his entire life to nutrition, how he worked off the ice physically and getting that extra half-step. Right after that letdown, it's been a slow build to where he's brought his game now. I know he was a big Patrick Kane guy growing up, and I see a lot of that in him and how it's transferred over.
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Has there been anything remotely legitimate that you've heard that could give some hope to Arizona hockey fans who want the NHL back?
I will do whatever I can to try to help bring Arizona hockey back. I think it was unfortunate and maybe a little bit of bad luck. I feel like a little bit more could've been done ownership-wise and I don't think it's time to point a finger. I think with the right ownership group and the rink in the right location, and a successful team, it could thrive in Arizona. Much like it has in Vegas . Even when the rink was in Glendale and it was a little bit of a trek for everybody, when the team had success, I was fortunate enough to be part of those teams. We made the playoffs three years in a row and in the third year, we went to the conference finals against the LA Kings (in 2012), and there was a great foundation that was set. They had no problem driving 35 to 45 minutes to games. If the rink is in an even better location and we have a better team, it would be supported tenfold.
Reach the reporter or send tips for stories at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com , as well as @jennarortiz on X.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Paul Bissonnette talks 2026 Olympics, potential Arizona Coyotes return
