The Boston Bruins made a surprising move as General Manager Don Sweeney announced the signing of forward Mark Kastelic to a three-year contract extension, valued at an annual average of $1.567 million through the 2027-28 season.
Kastelic joined the Bruins during the offseason in a trade with the Ottawa Senators, which saw Boston send goaltender Linus Ullmark to Ottawa. In return, the Bruins acquired Kastelic, goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, and a first-round draft pick. Although the trade was initially met with skepticism, Kastelic has quickly become a fan favorite among Boston supporters.
Keeping Kasty around đź’Ş
The #NHLBruins have signed Mark Kastelic to a three-year contract extension.
đź“°: https://t.co/j8G7XDix2V pic.twitter.com/fQqVUV4ELn
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 3, 2025
The 25-year-old forward has played 39 games for the Bruins this season. He started the season strongly, leading the team in points early on but has since slowed down. So far, Kastelic has recorded four goals and seven assists, totaling 11 points. He is also a physical presence on the ice, leading the team with 151 hits and sharing the top spot in penalty minutes with fellow newcomer Nikita Zadorov.
Kastelic holds a plus-4 rating this season, placing him fourth on the team in plus-minus. Across the NHL, he ranks second in total hits and fourth in hits per 60 minutes among players with at least 25 games played.
In his 183 career games split between the Bruins and Senators organizations, Kastelic has compiled 18 goals, 18 assists, and 36 points, alongside 255 penalty minutes. Despite some initial doubts about the trade, his gritty style and physical play have made him a valuable asset to the Bruins’roster.