Nick Paul Bio
Nicholas Paul, known professionally as Nick Paul, is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). A left-shooting left winger, he was selected by the Dallas Stars in the fourth round, 101st overall, of the 2013 NHL entry draft. He previously played for the Ottawa Senators and helped Canada capture gold medals at both the junior and senior international levels.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Paul was born on March 20, 1995, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. He is the son of Ellwood Paul and Melinda Paul. Paul holds dual Canadian and United States citizenship because his mother is an American citizen of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent. Growing up in a hockey-friendly household, his father and half-brother Christopher built a backyard rink so Paul and his older brother Jesse could practice regularly during the winter months.
As a youth, Paul played minor midget hockey for the Mississauga Chargers of the Greater Toronto Hockey League. During his 2011–12 season with the Chargers, he scored three goals and two assists for five points. Off the ice, he became friends with Max Domi and the two attended Toronto Maple Leafs games together, an experience that helped fuel his love for the sport.
Path to Hockey
Paul entered Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft eligibility while standing only 5-foot-6, a small stature for a hockey prospect. He posted four goals and 25 points in 37 games during that draft year but went unselected in his first year of eligibility. Undeterred, Paul continued to develop and was later chosen by the Brampton Battalion, later relocated as the North Bay Battalion, as an overage player.
After his first OHL season with the Battalion, in which he scored 12 goals and 28 points, Paul was selected 101st overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2013 NHL entry draft. The selection launched his path toward professional hockey and set the stage for a career built on steady improvement.
Nick Paul Career
Junior Career (2011–2015)
Following his draft by Dallas, Paul returned to the Battalion and quickly became one of the team’s top offensive contributors. By October of that season, he led the club with five goals in eleven games and finished the year with 37 goals and 29 assists through 58 regular-season games under coach Stan Butler. He helped lead the Battalion to the OHL’s Eastern Conference Finals against the Oshawa Generals and posted a four-game goal-scoring streak during the post-season, finishing tied for second in playoff goal scoring with nine tallies in 15 games.
On July 1, 2014, Paul’s NHL rights were traded by the Stars, along with Alex Chiasson, Alex Guptill, and a 2015 second-round pick, to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Jason Spezza and Ludwig Karlsson. He rejoined the Battalion for his final OHL season in 2014–15 and by December had recorded 19 goals and 34 points through 27 games. On December 20, 2014, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Senators.
Ottawa Senators Era (2015–2022)
Paul signed with Ottawa and made his professional debut with their American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, during the 2014–15 season. He finished with six goals and 11 assists in 45 AHL games. After another AHL assignment, Paul was called up by Ottawa in February 2016 and made his NHL debut on February 16, 2016, against the Buffalo Sabres. He recorded his first NHL goal on February 24, 2016, in a 4–1 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Paul struggled to lock down a full-time NHL role during his first few seasons with Ottawa and was assigned to the Belleville Senators after clearing waivers at the end of the 2019 training camp. He became a regular NHL player during the 2019–20 season, setting a new career high with 56 games played. Following the trade of Erik Gudbranson during the 2020–21 season, Paul was named an alternate captain and emerged as one of the Senators’ top penalty killers, earning the team’s nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. In 2021–22, Paul was used all over the lineup by coach D. J. Smith, though stalled contract talks led the organization to make him available for a trade.
Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2022–Present)
On March 20, 2022, just one day before the NHL trade deadline, Paul was dealt from Ottawa to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Mathieu Joseph and a 2024 fourth-round draft pick. He scored his first goal as a member of the Lightning two days later against the Carolina Hurricanes. Paul made his Stanley Cup playoff debut in the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs and scored his first two playoff goals in Game 7, including the series-winning tally. He helped Tampa Bay reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the third consecutive season, contributing five goals and nine points through 23 post-season games before the Lightning fell to the Colorado Avalanche.
On July 1, 2022, Paul agreed to a seven-year, $22.05 million contract extension to remain with the Lightning. In the 2022–23 playoffs, facing a 3–1 series deficit against the Maple Leafs, he scored the Game 5 winner to keep Tampa Bay alive, although Toronto eliminated the Lightning in Game 6. Paul has continued to serve as a versatile two-way contributor in Tampa Bay’s lineup.
Playing Style and Strengths
Listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 223 pounds, Paul combines size, skating ability, and defensive responsibility to play a reliable two-way game. He is valued for his penalty killing, his willingness to slot into multiple lineup positions, and his willingness to play a physical brand of hockey along the boards and in front of the net.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most memorable moments of Paul’s career was his Game 7 series-winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2022 first round, which propelled Tampa Bay into another Stanley Cup Finals. He also scored the gold-medal-winning goal for Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Championship and earned an entry-level contract with Ottawa after a dominant final OHL campaign.
Nick Paul Career Wins and Achievements
Nick Paul has compiled a steady résumé of wins and achievements across junior, professional, and international hockey. He reached the OHL’s Eastern Conference Finals with the North Bay Battalion, made the Stanley Cup Finals with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and captured two gold medals with Team Canada.
International Highlights
Paul made his international debut with Canada at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, recording three goals in seven games to help Canada win the gold medal. He was later selected to represent Canada at the senior level for the 2021 IIHF World Championship, where he scored at 6:26 of overtime in the gold medal game against Finland to deliver Canada its 21st all-time title. Following the Lightning’s first-round exit in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, Paul again joined Team Canada for the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
Other Performances
Paul earned the Ottawa Senators’ nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the 2020–21 season in recognition of his perseverance and dedication to hockey.
Nick Paul Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Paul was raised in Mississauga, Ontario, by his parents Ellwood and Melinda Paul. His father and half-brother Christopher constructed a backyard rink that became a central part of his childhood, while his older brother Jesse also shared in the family’s love of hockey.
Personal Life
Paul grew up alongside his older brother Jesse and half-brother Christopher, both of whom were involved in his early hockey development. He has maintained ties to his hometown of Mississauga and continues to build his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Nick Paul remains under contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on the seven-year extension he signed in July 2022. He is expected to continue serving in a versatile role under the coaching staff, contributing on the penalty kill and in a checking-line capacity while providing secondary offense.
Paul’s blend of size, two-way reliability, and playoff experience made him a valuable piece for Tampa Bay as the team navigates a competitive Atlantic Division. With several core veterans still in place, Paul is positioned to play a steady role in the Lightning’s push toward another deep post-season run.
On the international stage, Paul’s continued selection to Canada’s roster at major tournaments indicates that he remains in the national-team conversation. His combination of size, work ethic, and big-game goals makes him a candidate for further international duty in 2025.
