While blockbuster trades dominate Winnipeg’s headlines, a physical blueliner remains the final piece of the RFA puzzle. Here is why the Moose veteran’s quiet return matters.
As the Winnipeg Jets' off-season rolls on, the storylines dominating the conversation are easy to guess.
Will Connor Hellebuyck be traded before his contract situation forces the front office's hand? What will Cole Perfetti's next deal look like after a disappointing, injury-shortened season? Those questions have sucked up most of the oxygen around the organization this summer.
But tucked away from the headlines is a smaller, quieter storyline: the case of 24-year-old defenseman Tyrel Bauer, the last restricted free agent still without a new contract on the Jets' books.
According to Illegal Curve's Dave Minuk, Bauer has been skating in Winnipeg with the club's pro group as he readies himself for the coming season. The six-foot-three blueliner, taken by Winnipeg in the sixth round (164th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, has spent his entire pro career to date in the organization's system, playing all four of his professional seasons with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL.
Over his first three seasons, in 162 games, Bauer struggled to find his footing, posting just 16 points and a minus-39 rating overall, while racking up more than 100 penalty minutes in two of those three campaigns as one of the Moose's most physical presences on the back end.
The Cochrane, Alberta, native posted his first positive rating as a pro, finishing at plus-11, while adding five points in 52 games. He also set a new career high in penalty minutes, sitting at 110 for the season.
Bauer's off-ice reputation has grown alongside his on-ice game as he was named the Moose's winner of the AHL's Specialty Man of the Year award for community contributions, and was also recognized with two separate Manitoba-based community service honours during his time with the organization.
Training camp is still weeks away and there's no indication the two sides are on anything but track for a return. As the Jets sort through their bigger off-season dilemmas, from Hellebuyck's future to Perfetti's future going forward to the shaping of next season's roster, Bauer's next deal may not make waves.
However, for a player who has quietly worked his way from a raw sixth-round pick into a steadier, more disciplined defensive presence, it's a storyline worth watching all the same.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
