Mark Kastelic may not be the flashiest name on the Bruins’ roster, but make no mistake-he’s carving out a role that’s turning heads inside the locker room and earning trust from the bench.
Acquired from Ottawa in the 2024 Linus Ullmark trade, Kastelic came into Boston as a bottom-six grinder. But this season, his responsibilities have grown, and so has his impact. He’s become one of those glue guys-players who may not dominate the scoresheet, but do all the little things that winning teams need.
Take overtime, for example. Kastelic now routinely takes the opening faceoff.
If he wins it, he gets a quick change to let the Bruins roll out their offensive weapons. If he loses?
He stays out there-and that’s by design. Head coach Marco Sturm trusts him to hold the line defensively, a rare assignment for a depth forward in such high-leverage moments.
“He’s already waiting for it,” Sturm said. “That’s the best part.
Talked to him about it, and he’s like, ‘Yeah, that’s my job. I want to do that.’
As soon as it’s OT, I can see him looking.”
That kind of buy-in doesn’t just happen. It’s earned-through effort, through consistency, and through presence. Kastelic has also shown he’s willing to drop the gloves when necessary, standing up for teammates and bringing a physical edge that still matters in today’s game.
“I feel like I have a role, and little moments like that, I take a lot of pride in,” Kastelic said after Saturday’s game. “It’s great to feel the trust from the coaching staff to get put in those big moments.
It’s been pretty cool to go out there. Guys on the team, it’s such a little thing, but they hype me up so much.”
That kind of camaraderie matters-especially on a team like Boston, where culture and accountability have long been part of the identity. Kastelic’s not just filling a spot on the roster; he’s becoming part of the Bruins’ heartbeat.
And while his primary value comes from his defensive reliability and physical presence, he’s also found ways to contribute offensively. Through 27 games, he’s posted four goals and four assists-solid numbers for a player in his role.
The Bruins, sitting at 15-12-0 and holding second place in the Atlantic Division, are still figuring out their full identity this season. But players like Kastelic are helping shape it-quietly, effectively, and with a clear sense of purpose.
Boston heads back to work Tuesday night in Detroit, and while the spotlight may shine brightest on the top scorers, don’t overlook the guys doing the dirty work. Kastelic is proving that every shift matters-and that trust, once earned, is a powerful thing.