Mark Kastelic has formally been a Bruin for lower than a yr, however he loved the weekend’s cornucopia of Black and Gold reminiscences as a lot as anybody.
Not solely does he have the group operating by way of his blood – his grandfather, Pat Stapleton, was a short-term Bruin earlier than transferring on to the Blackhawks – however his model of play wouldn’t have been misplaced on the Lunch Pail AC groups of the late Seventies.
When that workforce specifically was introduced as much as him, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Kastlic’s eyes lit up.
“Yeah, that undoubtedly bought me fired up, that period,” mentioned Kastelic on Monday after the workforce’s non-obligatory observe. “I went again and watched it (Sunday) night time with my household, they had been on the town. We threw the video again up on the TV and watched. It was a loopy recreation again then and funky to look at. I really feel like, hopefully my model is appreciated right here. Personally, I really feel like I’m an excellent match for this group.”
On this up-and-down Bruins season, Kastelic is without doubt one of the few gamers who has exceeded expectations. At first, he appeared like a throw-in within the Linus Ullmark commerce that garnered a primary spherical decide (Dean Letourneau) and backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo. However Kastelic has been extra throwback than throw-in – a relentless forechecker who, when his model upsets the opposition, shouldn’t be afraid to punch somebody within the nostril to demand his ice.
For a lot of the season, he centered a fourth line with John Beecher and Cole Koepke. It was so efficient that former coach Jim Montgomery was hesitant to interrupt it as much as assist different traces that had been struggling.
Present head coach Joe Sacco mentioned on Monday that he wished to see how Kastelic may have an effect on the Charlie Coyle-Trent Frederic line so he resolve to bump him up in Sunday’s recreation towards the Canadiens. He was not upset. Kastelic had a hard-working help on Charlie Coyle’s purpose and one other one on Coyle’s second purpose of the sport. He additionally had 5 hits and got here flying in to help Trent Frederic in his battle with Montreal robust man Arber Xhekaj, carry a “pack mentality,” as Kastelic put it.
“Once we determined to place Kasty with Coyle and Freddy, we had been on the lookout for some vitality on that line. It labored effectively,” mentioned Sacco. “I assumed Kasty had an excellent recreation, particularly proper off the hop. He’s bodily, he’s on prime of individuals. He attracts you into the battle, Kasty. It labored effectively and I assumed he introduced nice vitality to that line. They clearly bought rewarded for it.”
Frederic, for one, appreciates what Kastelic brings.
“It’s by no means dangerous having a bit safety,” joked Frederic, not shy about dropping the gloves himself. “It’s greater than that. He’s only a good participant and he’s straightforward to play with. He’s direct. I take pleasure in taking part in with him. I really feel like each time I’ve performed with him, it’s been good.
“A whole lot of occasions he’s the F1 and he’s creating numerous unfastened pucks and scrums. I feel he’s underrated how expert he’s and what number of performs he could make on the market. He’s probably not underrated to me however simply typically I feel perhaps as a result of (he) fights or he performed in Ottawa that individuals don’t perceive how proficient he’s.”
Whereas Kastelic could have established an id as a fourth liner, each participant appreciates getting a bump up.
“It’s an excellent feeling, that the coaches belief me to play up and down the lineup,” mentioned Kastelic. “To have the ability to be versatile simply provides to my worth as a participant. Coming to the rink I wasn’t anticipating it. However then nothing actually modifications. I like taking part in with anybody on this workforce so regardless of who I’m with, I complement them rather well.”
Kastelic feels he’s established a robust rapport with Sacco as effectively.
“I feel he’s an excellent coach and nice individual off the ice as effectively,” mentioned Kastelic. I like playgin for good folks and people who find themselves sincere and honest and I feel he brings that as effectively. He’s been a pleasure to work with since I bought to Boston, even earlier than he grew to become head coach. He’s all the time working with me behind the scenes. I actually love taking part in for him.”
The 25-year-old Kastelic, who’s making $835,000 this yr, is ready to turn into a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after this season. With so many unknowns about this workforce, it’s laborious to foretell what is going to occur with anybody on the roster.
However as he recounted how a lot Sunday’s Centennial ceremony meant to him, it’s straightforward to image Kastelic making a long-term residence right here.
“Partially due to my grandpa, that made it particular,” mentioned Kastelic, whose father Ed additionally performed 220 NHL video games with Washington and Hartford. “However whether or not he performed right here or not, that ceremony was tremendous cool and it’s an enormous honor to be in Boston and be a Bruin, simply with the tradition and the historical past right here, simply with the blokes you noticed on the ice. It was nearly emotional. And I’ve solely been right here a short while. I can solely think about what the blokes who’ve performed right here longer had been feeling. It means much more, after watching that ceremony, to be a Bruin.”
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