Tyrell Bauer wasted no time showing Scott Arniel exactly what he brings to the Winnipeg Jets: size, edge and zero hesitation.
The 24-year-old defenceman got his first NHL look against the Boston Bruins and immediately found himself opposite Mark Kastelic, one of the league's established heavyweights.
Bauer stands 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, and Winnipeg originally selected him in the sixth round, 164th overall, in 2020. He entered the night without a regular-season NHL game on his record. Marqueur.com
That didn't stop him from accepting the challenge when Kastelic came calling late in the first period.
Bauer and Kastelic squared up near the Boston crease, grabbed jerseys and started trading right hands before the officials moved in.
The rookie stayed upright through the exchange and kept firing against an opponent with far more NHL experience. It was the type of sequence that gets immediate attention on an NHL bench.
Bauer's right hand came free repeatedly as Kastelic tried to control his jersey, and neither player backed away once they were locked in.
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Tyrell Bauer makes his presence felt immediately
For Bauer, the timing matters. Winnipeg isn't evaluating him as an offensive blue-line option. His path is built around defending hard, handling physical shifts and giving the organization a different element on the back end.
He's also playing for more than a memorable preseason moment. Bauer carries an $875,000 cap hit on a contract running through 2027-28, with restricted free-agent status waiting at expiry. Marqueur.com
Scott Arniel now has another data point when Winnipeg trims its roster. Bauer showed he can step into an NHL environment and immediately play the same aggressive style that has defined his work below the league.
The Jets already know what Bauer is physically. What matters now is whether his defensive reads, puck movement and pace can hold up when the opposition gets faster and the lineup gets closer to regular-season quality.
Kastelic gave him an early test that couldn't be mistaken for a soft introduction.
Bauer answered it. And for a player trying to force his name into Winnipeg's roster conversation, that's one way to make sure the coaching staff remembers the debut.
Should Tyrell Bauer get another NHL preseason game after answering Mark Kastelic?
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