Player Discussion Mark Kastelic

[Chevalier du Clavier]

 

[Olden McGroin]

 

[Gee Wally]

It looks like they’re trying to put together a modern-day version of the Big Bad Bruins - The Boston Globe

Being hard to play against throughout an 82-game season is a necessity. It’s on the postseason stage, however, where size, muscle, and grit are the most important ingredients to advance.

www.bostonglobe.com

GAME IS IN HIS BLOOD​

Father, grandfather guided Kastelic​

Mark Kastelic arrived in Boston with excellent hockey bloodlines and a unique tie to the city.

His father, Ed Kastelic, was a physical presence for the Capitals and Whalers in the late 1980s and early ‘90s, and his grandfather, Pat Stapleton, began his NHL odyssey with the Bruins in 1961.

Ed Kastelic was an old-school enforcer who accumulated 719 penalty minutes in 220 games across seven NHL seasons.

Though Mark Kastelic will drop the gloves when he must, he plays a slightly different role than the old man. Kastelic plays a heavy, physical forecheck game, and will look to carve out a bottom-six niche with the Bruins.

“It’s definitely part of my game, but I don’t think that’s what defines me as a player at all,” said Kastelic, who grew up in Phoenix, where his father coached his youth teams. “I think I bring a lot, a good all-around game and kind of take a lot of pride in being a good two-way forward, and I think being physical and faceoffs are a strength of mine, and definitely not afraid to mix it up if I have to and if the time calls for it.

With coach Jim Montgomery and GM Don Sweeney putting a premium on forechecking, Kastelic could be a diamond in the rough. He ticked off the elements he thinks are critical to be successful as an individual and a line when it comes to the art of pinning teams in their end.

“I think just first thing first is you can just be in the best shape possible and have a good conditioning level so that way you can maintain a high drive and high forechecking mentality,” he said. “And I think as a line, just being on the same page as everybody else and really understanding the systems and what the coaches have in place. So, I think those two things go together and just the mentality of just being hungry for the puck and not being afraid to get in there and be physical and separate the puck from the player.”

As much as dear old dad influenced his career, Kastelic said he also had a special bond with Stapleton, a solid defenseman who played 635 NHL games (545 with the Blackhawks) and played in four All-Star Games. He also represented Canada in the Summit Series in 1972 and ‘74.

“I definitely had a really cool relationship with him, and I mean, growing up he was really involved in my hockey career,” said Kastelic.

Kastelic would often escape the summer heat in Phoenix to spend time with Stapleton in Ontario.

“There would be some summers where he’d run a hockey camp, a small hockey camp in Strathroy, and I got to be a part of it, and a lot of it was based around the mental part of the game too, so I think he had a really big impact on me in that part with just being mentally tough and having a good positive mind-set about everything,” said Kastelic. “And yeah, he was definitely somebody I looked up to and I talked to a lot. He would text me really regularly with just positive inspirational messages, so that’s something I’m really lucky to have had.”

Stapleton, who died in 2020, wore No. 4 with the Bruins before Bobby Orr immortalized it.

“That’s crazy,” said Kastelic, who has seen pictures of his grandfather in a Bruins sweater. “Obviously I can’t wear that now, but I’m No. 47, so that’s a little part that’s still there for him, so it’s pretty cool. I also wore [his Blackhawks’] No. 12 in the past for him, so yeah, something I try to do to honor him a little bit.”

 

[McGarnagle]

He's got the jam

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

I never noticed him in Ottawa. Wouldn’t have been able to tell you a damn thing about his game. But I remember it being said this offseason that he was going to be a fan favourite in Boston.

It’s early but so far? Understatement. Him and Koepke have been my biggest surprises so far. Absolutely outstanding.

 

[Colt.45Orr]

I never noticed him in Ottawa. Wouldn’t have been able to tell you a damn thing about his game. But I remember it being said this offseason that he was going to be a fan favourite in Boston.

It’s early but so far? Understatement. Him and Koepke have been my biggest surprises so far. Absolutely outstanding.

He was a stud in the WHL. He's got the tools to turn into a draw-winning 3c in a few years.

 

[Ozzy Osbourne]

It seems like he might be capable of moving up a line. There was a lot of talk of moving him up in the GDT. I’m very happy with his current play/role and don’t want to ruin a good thing.

He’s got the needed, jam, size, wheels and enough skill to make him very effective. Unless he really starts lighting it up, I leave things the way they are.

 

[Mad-Marcus]

If the 4th line is scoring, leave it intact. Them big boys are intimidating. Moving guys up doesn't assure the same success, playing against upper lines.
This is an advantage that could cause problems with us having the last change, or cause teams to switch who's out against our 4th line.
That frozen rope from the slot for his 1st goal was impressive and unexpected.

 

[ODAAT]

I never noticed him in Ottawa. Wouldn’t have been able to tell you a damn thing about his game. But I remember it being said this offseason that he was going to be a fan favourite in Boston.

It’s early but so far? Understatement. Him and Koepke have been my biggest surprises so far. Absolutely outstanding.

couldn`t have said it better myself

 

[KillerMillerTime]

He was a stud in the WHL. He's got the tools to turn into a draw-winning 3c in a few years.

Can't agree here. He was an overager I believe his last year in The Dub. Had a good 20 year old season but has never shown 3C capability in the NHL. Good FO guy, responsible and physical but limited offensively, not withstanding his 1st goal.

I got into a back and forth with a Red Wings fans when I criticized Rasmussen and
insulted the fan saying Rasmussen wasn't much better than Kastelic. Guy lost it
but I started watching Kastelic more. He isn't 3rd line material on a PO team full stop.
Acceptable 4th line guy? Looks like it to me.

 

[Fenian24]

Can't agree here. He was an overager I believe his last year in The Dub. Had a good 20 year old season but has never shown 3C capability in the NHL. Good FO guy, responsible and physical but limited offensively, not withstanding his 1st goal.

I got into a back and forth with a Red Wings fans when I criticized Rasmussen and
insulted the fan saying Rasmussen wasn't much better than Kastelic. Guy lost it
but I started watching Kastelic more. He isn't 3rd line material on a PO team full stop.
Acceptable 4th line guy? Looks like it to me.

I don't know about that, his WHL numbers look pretty good to me as well as being an assistant or captain for the team. I would be thrilled with a tougher Greg Campbell but he might be able to bring a touch more. I think he can bring as much as Tufte at minimum.

		Games	Goals	AST	Points	PIM
2016-17	​ Calgary Hitmen	67	13	22	35	65
2017-18	​ Calgary Hitmen"A"	71	23	22	45	93
2018-19	​ Calgary Hitmen"C"	66	47	30	77	122
2019-20	​ Calgary Hitmen"C"	58	38	30	68	83

 

[KillerMillerTime]

I don't know about that, his WHL numbers look pretty good to me as well as being an assistant or captain for the team. I would be thrilled with a tougher Greg Campbell but he might be able to bring a touch more. I think he can bring as much as Tufte at minimum.

		Games	Goals	AST	Points	PIM
2016-17	​ Calgary Hitmen	67	13	22	35	65
2017-18	​ Calgary Hitmen"A"	71	23	22	45	93
2018-19	​ Calgary Hitmen"C"	66	47	30	77	122
2019-20	​ Calgary Hitmen"C"	58	38	30	68	83

He is better than Tufte for certain but I don't see him ever out performing Frederic.

 

[Fenian24]

He is better than Tufte for certain but I don't see him ever out performing Frederic.

Agree, but I think they should be trying Frederic with Marchand and Coyle.

 

[goldenblack]

Absolute ceiling of a Mike Fisher type?

 

[McGarnagle]

I don't know about that, his WHL numbers look pretty good to me as well as being an assistant or captain for the team. I would be thrilled with a tougher Greg Campbell but he might be able to bring a touch more. I think he can bring as much as Tufte at minimum.

		Games	Goals	AST	Points	PIM
2016-17	​ Calgary Hitmen	67	13	22	35	65
2017-18	​ Calgary Hitmen"A"	71	23	22	45	93
2018-19	​ Calgary Hitmen"C"	66	47	30	77	122
2019-20	​ Calgary Hitmen"C"	58	38	30	68	83

I've been watching too much 90s wrestling on YouTube lately and was using Bret Hart's terminology (he's got the jam) to describe him, all while not realizing that he actually seriously literally played for the Calgary Hitmen? It's meant to be. Now he's my new favorite player. A real jam-up guy.

 

[DKH]

It seems like he might be capable of moving up a line. There was a lot of talk of moving him up in the GDT. I’m very happy with his current play/role and don’t want to ruin a good thing.

He’s got the needed, jam, size, wheels and enough skill to make him very effective. Unless he really starts lighting it up, I leave things the way they are.

He’s got a lot of Foligno in him

My centers 1-4

Lindholm
Coyle
Poitras
Kastelic

Absolute ceiling of a Mike Fisher type?

Fisher was in Bergeron litter ~ he was really good

 

[The don godfather]

The guy has skills with the toughness. Who knew? Donny!

 

[Sheppy]

12-5 on draws to start the year.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Saw he potted a couple goals for you guys. He was the part of the trade I was upset about. I don't think he's got the consistency to be a 3C but he's a higher end 4C with good coaching, something he hasn't had for years playing in Ottawa. I've thought from the beginning, Kasty is absolutely the definition of a Bruins hockey player.

Regarding the Mike Fisher ceiling, not anywhere close, unfortunately. Fisher was a beast.

 

[dugg133]

Absolute ceiling of a Mike Fisher type?

No, his ceiling is probably still just a quality 4C and that's ok.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

12-5 on draws to start the year.

It does help that he is only taking draws on his strong side, but still very good, and I think the pairing of him with Beecher will benefit both substantially