Nick Paul Bio
Nicholas Paul (born March 20, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). A left winger, he was selected by the Dallas Stars in the fourth round, 101st overall, of the 2013 NHL entry draft. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 225 pounds, Paul plays a physical, responsible brand of hockey and has become a trusted contributor on both penalty-killing units and at even strength.
Before arriving in Tampa Bay, Paul spent the first seven seasons of his NHL career with the Ottawa Senators organization, working his way up from the American Hockey League affiliate to a regular role in the top nine. He has also represented Canada internationally, winning gold at both the junior and senior levels of the IIHF World Championship.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Paul was born on March 20, 1995, in Mississauga, Ontario, to parents Ellwood and Melinda. He holds dual citizenship between Canada and the United States because his mother is an American citizen. Growing up in a hockey-friendly household, Paul spent countless hours on a backyard rink that his father Ellwood and his half-brother Christopher built for him and his older brother Jesse.
Paul played minor midget hockey for the Mississauga Chargers of the Greater Toronto Hockey League, where he recorded three goals and two assists during his 2011–12 season. As a youth, he was friends with fellow Ontario-born player Max Domi, and the two attended Toronto Maple Leafs games together. Those early experiences in Mississauga helped shape the two-way foundation that has defined his professional career.
Path to Hockey
During his Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft eligibility year, Paul stood only 5-foot-6 and was not selected in his first year of eligibility. He returned the following season and was chosen by the Brampton Battalion as an overage player, later playing for the franchise when it relocated to North Bay.
After his first season with the Battalion, where he scored 12 goals and 28 points, Paul was selected 101st overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2013 NHL entry draft. Following the draft, he returned to the Battalion and emerged as one of the team’s most dangerous scorers, accumulating 37 goals and 29 assists in 58 regular-season games and helping the club reach the OHL’s Eastern Conference Finals.
Nick Paul Career
Junior Career (2011–2015)
Paul’s OHL career peaked during the 2013–14 campaign, when he tied for second among postseason goal scorers with nine goals in 15 games under coach Stan Butler. On July 1, 2014, his NHL rights were traded by Dallas to the Ottawa Senators as part of the package that sent Jason Spezza the other way.
He returned to the Battalion for the 2014–15 season, posting 19 goals and 34 points through 27 games before signing a three-year entry-level contract with Ottawa on December 20, 2014. At the Senators’ 2015 development camp, he measured in at 6 feet 4 inches and 225 pounds, reflecting the dramatic physical growth he experienced in his late teens.
Ottawa Senators Era (2015–2022)
Paul made his professional debut with Ottawa’s AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, in 2014–15, finishing with six goals and 11 assists in 45 games. He was called up in February 2016 and made his NHL debut on February 16, 2016, against the Buffalo Sabres, before scoring his first NHL goal on February 24, 2016, in a 4–1 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Paul struggled to break into Ottawa’s lineup under coach Guy Boucher and was placed on waivers at the end of the 2019 training camp, going unclaimed and being assigned to Belleville. He returned to become a regular NHL player during the 2019–20 season, setting a new high with 56 games played, and was later named an alternate captain and Ottawa’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy after establishing himself as one of the team’s top penalty killers.
Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2022–Present)
On March 20, 2022, just a day before the trade deadline, Paul was dealt by Ottawa to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Mathieu Joseph and a 2024 fourth-round pick. He scored his first goal as a Lightning two days later against the Carolina Hurricanes and quickly slotted into Tampa Bay’s middle-six forward group. In the first round of the 2022 playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Paul scored his first two playoff goals in Game 7, including the series winner, before helping Tampa Bay reach the Stanley Cup Finals for a third consecutive season. He contributed five goals and nine points through 23 playoff games before the Lightning fell to the Colorado Avalanche.
On July 1, 2022, Paul signed a seven-year, $22.05 million contract extension to remain with Tampa Bay. During the 2022–23 playoffs, he again faced Toronto in the first round and scored a crucial Game 5 winner to stave off elimination, though the Maple Leafs ultimately prevailed in the next game.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although the term typically applies to racing, in hockey terms Paul is recognized as a dependable two-way forward who thrives on the penalty kill and brings a heavy, physical presence along the boards. Coaches have praised his willingness to slot into any role in the lineup, from top-six scoring duty to matchup defensive assignments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most memorable moments, Paul’s Game 7 winner against Toronto in 2022 and his Game 5 elimination-saving goal in 2023 stand out as defining postseason achievements. He also represented Canada internationally, winning gold at the 2015 World Junior Championship and again at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, where he scored the overtime winner against Finland.
Nick Paul Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
While hockey runs deep in Paul’s family, the connection is more personal than professional. His father Ellwood and half-brother Christopher built a backyard rink in Mississauga where Nick and his older brother Jesse honed their skills as youngsters. His mother Melinda is an American citizen, which gave Paul dual Canadian-American citizenship.
Personal Life
Paul grew up alongside his older brother Jesse and half-brother Christopher in Mississauga, where the backyard rink became a centerpiece of family life. Public details about his personal relationships remain limited beyond his close family ties and longtime friendship with fellow NHL player Max Domi.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 campaign, Paul remains a core middle-six forward and alternate leader for the Tampa Bay Lightning under his long-term contract. His blend of penalty-killing reliability, playoff experience, and physical play continues to make him a trusted option for the coaching staff in high-leverage matchups.
After representing Canada again at the 2024 IIHF World Championship following Tampa Bay’s first-round exit, Paul returned to Tampa Bay with renewed momentum. His familiarity with the Lightning’s system and his seven-year commitment position him as a steady contributor rather than a flashy scorer, and the organization expects him to remain central to its special-teams units and postseason plans.