ARIZONA COYOTES

Coyotes winger Paul Bissonnette hopes to return to team in 2014-15

Jun 21, 2014, 4:20 PM | Updated: 4:20 pm

Every team needs a fourth-line grinder, a pest if you will, to do the dirty work that gets under the skin of the opposition.

For the last five seasons, veteran left winger Paul Bissonnette has been that guy for the Phoenix Coyotes.

Never a man to shy away from a fight or a big hit along the boards, Bissonnette is a free agent this summer.

While the ultimate decision lies with general manager Don Maloney, the 29-year-old hopes to return to the team for the 2014-15 campaign.

In an Instagram post this week, Bissonnette, appearing alongside goaltender Mike Smith, made it quite clear to his followers that his intention is to stay in the Valley.

Always great seeing Smitty. Hope I’m back in the desert next season.

Though effective when he was on the ice last season, Bissonnette was reduced to a part-time player, appearing in only 39 games. In all, he recorded two goals and six assists.

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Coyotes winger Paul Bissonnette hopes to return to team in 2014-15