By: Ellie Man | Follow me on Twitter/X @ellieyym
In a victorious back-to-back stint, Boston Bruins forward Mark Kastelic dropped his gloves against Minnesota Wild forward Michael McCarron and engaged in another tilt against Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier to record his ninth and tenth fights this season. The 6’-4”, 234-pound heavyweight has been a force to be reckoned with, providing the Bruins with a physical edge that the team is classically known for.
The 27-year-old Arizona native is a dependable bottom-six right winger who has made a name for himself with his punishing play and intimidating intensity. He currently ranks second on the team with 199 hits and 133 penalty minutes.
Working alongside forward Tanner Jeannot, the pair brings some grit and snarl to the team with the ability to bring renewed energy to the ice. With a willingness to make contact and encourage a change in momentum, the duo complements each other’s roles and allows one another to flourish in their tough style of play.
Sean Kuraly is the final piece on the Bruins’ fourth line, and the three are key contributors on the team’s penalty kill. Since returning from the Olympic break, the special team ranks second in the league and has been a point of stability, despite a struggling power play.
“He [Kastelic] does great alongside Tanner on the wings and is very good at talking things through during the game. Smart, hardworking, great teammate,” centre Fraser Minten commented, prior to his promotion to the Bruins’ first line. “They’re actually really nice guys, but I’d be really scared of them if I was on the other team, probably. It is good to have toughness like that. Guys that are competitive and have your back.”
But Kastelic is not only useful for his hard-nosed position.
Coach Marco Sturm admitted he didn’t know much about the Arizona-born player when he first stepped into the leadership role. But his keen eye noticed Kastelic’s ability on the faceoff. The forward is particularly efficient in the circle, taking control of key draws to boast a 59.6 percent success rate.
Earlier this season, Sturm stated, “We want the puck, first of all. We think with him [Kastelic], getting it right from the faceoff, he’s our best guy as a righty. And now he’s already waiting for it. That’s the best part. I talked to him about it, and he’s like, ‘Yes, that’s my job, I want to do that.’ As soon as it’s OT, I can see him looking.”
This additional role has allowed Kastelic to take on more responsibility, alongside boosting his confidence. The right winger previously said, “It is a great opportunity for me to just do a job for the team and feel like I have a role. It’s just little moments like that where I feel like I just take a lot of pride in, personally. It is great to feel that trust from the coaching staff to get put in those big moments. It’s been pretty cool to go out there. The boys definitely have been – it’s such a little thing – but they hype me up so much. It is awesome to see.”
As a result, Kastelic has added a full two minutes to his time on ice compared to last season, going from 10:44 to 12:44 on average. He has also seen a career high record with 18 points (9G, 9A). These efforts include three game-winning goals, doubling his total since joining the National Hockey League in 2019, after being selected by the Ottawa Senators.
The grinder further noted, “A lot of it just comes with confidence and time and putting in the extra work and getting extra touches. I try not to think about numbers specifically, but rather just little goals to get there.”
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