BRIGHTON — Mark Kastelic is used to being one of, if not the tallest player in the locker room. At 6-foot-4, it’s hard to miss him. But when it comes to the Boston Bruins, the forward is just someone who blends in among the team that boasts several players over 6-feet.
“I think that’s something stood out to me when I got traded here, how big and heavy everybody is. I fall into that category. It’s definitely different not being one of the biggest guys around,” Kastelic said Thursday after captains’ practice at Warrior Ice Arena. “I feel pretty average here. That’s the style of hockey that everybody wants to play here this year, to be big and heavy. I think everyone’s excited for what we have in the room.”
Kastelic was acquired by Boston in the trade that sent Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators. He’ll likely slot in as the fourth line center, but he 25-year-old brings with him some versatility to also play on the wing.
“That’s another thing I take a lot of pride in, being able to play all different positions. I definitely view myself as a natural centerman, but the more versatile you are as a player, the more opportunities and good positions you can be put into,” he said. “That’s a part of my game that I continue to work on over the last year or so, being able to adapt, whether it’s center or wing.”
While Kastelic spent his first three NHL seasons with the Senators, his connection to the Bruins dates back to when he was just a kid.
His grandfather, Pat Stapleton, played for Boston from 1961-63 and was teammates with Johnny Bucyk. Now Kastelic will get a chance to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps when he puts on the Bruins jersey when the 2024-25 NHL season begins in October.
Kastelic said Stapleton had “a huge part” in his upbringing when it came to hockey. Stapleton taught Kastelic a lot about the game and being a player with high hockey IQ. But he also taught the forward about the mental side of hockey — something Kastelic believes has incredible value.