Mark Kastelic Bio
Mark Kastelic is an American professional ice hockey player who plays center for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on March 11, 1999, in Phoenix, Arizona, he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL entry draft by the Ottawa Senators. Standing 191 centimeters tall and weighing 95 kilograms, Kastelic has built a reputation as a hard-working, physical forward whose path to the NHL carried on a long family tradition.
After beginning his NHL career with the Ottawa Senators organization, Kastelic was traded to the Boston Bruins in June 2024 and quickly established himself as a reliable contributor on the fourth line. In January 2025, he signed a three-year contract extension with the Bruins worth an average annual value of 1.567 million United States dollars, keeping him in Boston through the 2027–28 season.
Early Life and Background
Mark Kastelic was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and grew up in a household steeped in professional ice hockey. He is of Slovenian descent, a heritage that connects him to a family with deep roots across multiple North American leagues. His upbringing in the desert Southwest, far from traditional hockey hotbeds, gave his career an unconventional starting point.
Kastelic played his youth hockey with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes programs while attending Desert Vista High School in Arizona. Those formative years helped him develop the skating and two-way skills that would later draw the attention of Western Hockey League scouts. His size and willingness to play a physical style were evident even before he reached junior hockey.
Path to Hockey
Kastelic joined the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League in 2015 and spent five seasons developing with the club. His breakout came during the 2018–19 campaign, when he scored 47 goals and finished with 77 points, leading the Hitmen offensively and earning the team captaincy for both the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons. Despite those numbers, he went undrafted twice while with Calgary before finally hearing his name called.
After his outstanding 2018–19 season, Kastelic was selected in the fifth round, 125th overall, of the 2019 NHL entry draft by the Ottawa Senators, who signed him to a three-year entry-level contract. He returned to Calgary for the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons before turning professional.
Mark Kastelic Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Kastelic made his professional debut in 2021 with the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League, the top minor-league affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. He used that stint to refine his defensive game and adjust to the professional pace. Injuries to several Ottawa forwards opened the door for his first NHL opportunity in January 2022.
On January 29, 2022, Kastelic made his NHL debut against the Anaheim Ducks. Less than three months later, on April 23, he scored his first two career NHL goals, including the eventual game-winner, in a 6–4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Those performances cemented his transition to the NHL.
Ottawa Senators Era (2022–2024)
During the 2022–23 season, Kastelic earned a roster spot out of training camp and became an NHL regular for the Ottawa Senators. His early play impressed general manager Pierre Dorion, who signed him to a two-year contract worth 1.67 million United States dollars on October 27, 2022. The deal reflected Ottawa’s belief that his combination of size, forechecking, and emerging offensive touch could fit into its long-term plans.
On January 13, 2023, Kastelic scored the game-winning goal in a 5–3 win over the Arizona Coyotes, marking his first NHL appearance in his hometown of Phoenix. He was later briefly reassigned to Belleville in early February 2023 after missing four games due to illness and injury, before being recalled on February 25. His two-year stint with Ottawa showed steady growth before the trade that reshaped his career.
Boston Bruins Era (2024–Present)
On June 24, 2024, Kastelic was traded, alongside goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and a 2024 first-round pick, to the Boston Bruins in exchange for goaltender Linus Ullmark. He made the Bruins roster out of training camp and quickly delivered solid fourth-line scoring. In the second game of the 2024–25 season, on October 10, 2024, he recorded his second career two-goal game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Just four days later, on October 14, 2024, Kastelic posted his first career three-point game with three assists in a 4–3 loss to the Florida Panthers. He also registered two assists in Boston’s 6–3 win over the Canadiens in the Bruins Centennial Game. His strong start led to a three-year, 1.567 million dollars average annual value contract on January 3, 2025, running through the 2027–28 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kastelic is recognized for his physical, north-south game, combining a heavy 95-kilogram frame with a responsible two-way approach. He excels at winning battles along the boards, killing penalties, and providing timely secondary scoring from the fourth line. His willingness to play a straightforward, hard-fading style has made him a trusted bottom-six option in Boston.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kastelic’s milestone moments include his first NHL goals against Montreal on April 23, 2022, his hometown game-winning goal against Arizona on January 13, 2023, and his first career three-point game against Florida on October 14, 2024. He also played a key role in the Bruins Centennial Game against the Canadiens, a memorable chapter in his young NHL journey.
Mark Kastelic Career Wins
While Mark Kastelic’s role has typically centered on defensive responsibility and physical play rather than highlight-reel production, he has delivered several important contributions. His two-goal games against the Montreal Canadiens in 2022 and 2024 stand out as signature offensive performances, and his first NHL game-winning goal against the Arizona Coyotes in 2023 remains a career highlight.
Boston Bruins Highlights
Kastelic’s first season with the Boston Bruins produced five goals and nine assists for 14 points, tying his previous career high in goals while setting new highs in assists and points. His October 2024 stretch against Montreal and Florida showed his offensive ceiling, while his work on the Bruins Centennial Game demonstrated his value in high-profile matchups.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond the NHL, Kastelic served as captain of the Calgary Hitmen and posted a 47-goal, 77-point season in 2018–19, the junior performance that ultimately launched his professional career. His development years in the Western Hockey League remain the foundation of his success at the top level.
Mark Kastelic Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Mark Kastelic comes from one of hockey’s notable family trees. His father, Ed Kastelic, is a former professional ice hockey player who appeared in 220 NHL games for the Washington Capitals and Hartford Whalers. His grandfather, Pat Stapleton, played over 600 games for the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins, while his uncle, Mike Stapleton, suited up for 697 NHL games across several teams.
Personal Life
Kastelic is of Slovenian descent and remains connected to his Arizona roots, having grown up in Phoenix before pursuing his hockey career in Canada and beyond. He tends to keep his personal life out of the public spotlight, focusing publicly on his development as a professional athlete.
2025 Season Performance
Mark Kastelic’s 2024–25 campaign with the Boston Bruins began brightly, with early offensive contributions against Montreal and Florida helping him earn a new three-year contract in January 2025. His role on the fourth line gave the Bruins reliable secondary scoring and physical play through the first half of the season.
Following the 4 Nations Face-Off break in mid-February 2025, however, the Bruins struggled, and Kastelic’s production dipped, with just a single goal in the games that followed. On March 22, 2025, he was injured against the Vegas Golden Knights, and on April 10, 2025, the team announced he would not return for the remainder of the season.
Kastelic finished his first Bruins season with five goals and nine assists for 14 points, tying his career high in goals while setting new career highs in assists and points. With his contract running through 2027–28, he is expected to be a key part of Boston’s bottom-six forward group once healthy for the 2025–26 season.