By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
After an emotional loss to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Semifinal, Boston Bruins President Cam Neely stated what he wanted to address this offseason at the Bruins’ end-of-season press conference. “We need to get a little faster, and I’d like to see a little more 50-50 puck battle wins. That’s just an area where you have to want the puck more than the other team.” Acquired from the Ottawa Senators as part of the return for Goaltender Linus Ullmark, the Bruins hope Mark Kastelic can help in those areas.
A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Kastelic joins the Bruins after a frustrating 2023-24 season in which he missed significant time due to a lower-body injury sustained in November. Once healthy, he saw his average ice-time drop significantly under Interim Head Coach Jacques Martin. The situation reached its peak after a February win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Unhappy with being benched for the third period, Kastelic skipped the team’s workout in favor of taking a post-game skate while fans were still in the building. Clearly, Kastelic needed a fresh start, and now he gets one in Boston.
If Kastelic struggled for playing time on a Senators team that finished in the penultimate position in the Atlantic Division, how might he earn consistent ice time on a Bruins team that finished with 109 points?
First, Kastelic is excellent at faceoffs. He won 54.4% of his faceoffs last year, a success rate that would have been third on the Bruins, behind only Johnny Beecher and Pavel Zacha. Boston struggled at the dot last season as a team, finishing 18th league-wide while winning only 49.5% of their draws. A right-hand shot that can win faceoffs on the fourth line is an asset that last year’s team did not have.
Kastelic also brings physicality and forechecking ability. The 25-year-old threw 123 hits in 63 games last year, dishing out pain to whoever stood in his way. His 14.41 hits per 60 minutes would have been second on the Bruins behind only Jakub Lauko.
Kastelic is also willing to stand up for his teammates. His seven fighting majors would have been tied with Trent Frederic for first on the Bruins last season. His 102 penalty minutes in the 2022-23 season were good for 11th league-wide. A tough customer, Kastelic, has dropped the gloves with some of the NHL’s heavyweights, including Arber Xhekaj, Tanner Jeannot, Tom Wilson, Kurtis MacDermid, and Nicolas Deslauriers.
Finally, Kastelic is a responsible defensive forward, averaging only 2.4 goals against per 60 minutes during five-on-five play last season, the second-least among Senators forwards who played at least 50 games. In addition, Kastelic’s 2.23 expected goals against per 60 minutes was the least of any Senators regular last season.
A bottom-six forward who is responsible defensively, physical, and can win draws, Kastelic could find a role under Bruins Head Coach Jim Montgomery. If so, he wouldn’t be the first member of his family to do so. His grandfather, Pat Stapleton, played parts of two seasons with the Bruins in the early 1960s. Six decades later, perhaps Kastelic will build a Bruins legacy of his own.
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