Jeff Paul was born March 1, 1978 in London, Ontario. The second round, 42nd overall selection of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Paul is a graduate of the Ontario Hockey League's Niagara Falls Thunder and Erie Otters.
A hulking defenceman, Paul spent four seasons in the OHL before making his professional debut in 1998-99. The London, Ontario native split his first season of pro hockey between the AHLs Portland Pirates and the IHL's Indianapolis Ice before joining the IHL's Cleveland Lumberjacks in 1999-00.
An in-your-face type of player, Paul who was originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks would sign as a free agent in the summer of 2001 with the Colorado Avalanche after playing the previous year with the AHL's Norfolk Admirals.
Upon signing with the Avalanche, Paul was assigned to the team's AHL affiliate in Hershey where he spent the better part of two seasons before making his NHL debut with the Avalanche in 2002-03. After only one season in the Colorado organization, Paul joined the Florida Panthers in the summer of 2003 and went on to play with the team's AHL affiliate in San Antonio before being acquired by the New York Rangers at the 2004 trade deadline for fellow minor leaguer Paul Healey.
Upon his arrival with the Rangers organization, Paul was assigned to the club's AHL affiliate in Hartford. Following a brief stint with the Rangers organization, the Washington Capitals acquired the former Niagara Falls Thunder/Erie Otters defenseman in the summer of 2004.
After one season in the Capitals organization, Paul was acquired by the Montreal Canadiens in the summer of 2005.
