Paul Bissonnette has fun with his job search via Twitter

Paul Bissonnette's fists and fingers have provided entertainment for hockey fans for years.

He was at it again at the start of the NHL's free agency period on Friday, having a little fun with his job search as it unfolded.

''The biggest thing is making GM's feel like you have multiple offers. Never come off as desperate. Play with their emotions. (hash)NHLFreeagency,'' he tweeted under his handle, (at)BizNasty2point0.

Bissonnette made a name for himself as a player in large part because of his ability to take and deliver a punch, playing six seasons with Pittsburgh and Arizona.

Sarcasm and self-deprecation turned him into an unlikely social media star , his Twitter following at 722,000 and growing.

Bissonnette played the past two seasons in the Los Angeles Kings' system and didn't want to irritate GM Dean Lombardi, so he dropped off Twitter.

Once the free agency period started, he came out firing again.

''Phones fully charged. Still no calls but It's early. (hash)StayPositive (hash)NHLFreeagency.''

''This is usually how it goes. All the big dogs go right away. Role players to follow. Not gonna panic. Stay the course. (hash)NHLFreeagency''

Bissonnette kept the banter going throughout the day, telling his followers that he fired his agent, he still has Brendan Shanahan's phone number and that he missed a call from a number in Pennsylvania, making it sound like it was from Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford.

''Looks like Pens want a repeat. I'll give it an hour to call back. Make Jim sweat a bit.''

A little later: ''That wasn't you was it (at)PenguinsGMJR?''

After that, Bissonnette showed a screen shot of a text to Shanahan that said ''Please,'' followed by a big offer that came through.

Bissonnette had a little more fun with Shanahan, pretending his phone was disconnected in the middle of a text exchange.

Late in the day, he intimated that a deal with Nashville may be in the works.

''Woah! Hold the phone. Catching wind the Preds are interested. Hang tight...''

Three minutes later, Bissonnette posted a photo of himself in a cowboy hat .

''Just got off the phone with David Poile. Great convo. Just working out the final details. Long day. I'll announce things officially tomorrow.''

A photo of him on a mechanical bull followed, but the fun was short-lived.

''Bad news guys. Wasn't actually Poile on the phone. One of my ''buddies'' playing a joke. Really bummed. Back to square 1. (hash)NoNashVegas.''