Jets rookie drops the gloves with Bruins enforcer and leaves him bloodied in NHL debut

Tyrel Bauer certainly didn't look like a rookie on Friday night. Making his NHL debut with the Winnipeg Jets, the 24-year-old defenseman wasted no time introducing himself to the league when he dropped the gloves with Boston Bruins forward Mark Kastelic.

And Bauer wasn't simply willing to answer the bell. The Jets rookie came out swinging.

Kastelic has built a reputation as one of the NHL's more experienced tough guys, with plenty of fights under his belt since entering the league. Bauer, meanwhile, was playing in his very first NHL game.

That didn't seem to matter once the gloves came off.

The two players traded some serious punches, with Bauer connecting on several big blows that immediately caught the attention of everyone watching. The rookie stood his ground against a player with considerably more NHL fighting experience and looked completely unfazed by the moment. He even left Kastelic bloodied on his way to the penalty box.

It was quite the way to announce yourself on the NHL stage.

Bauer may have entered the night as a rookie making his debut, but he certainly didn't fight like one.

And if this is any indication of the kind of edge he's bringing to Winnipeg, Jets fans may have just gotten a very entertaining introduction to their newest defenseman.