Bruins’ Mark Kastelic leaves game with lower-body injury and will not return

The Boston Bruins will play short for the remainder of their Saturday showdown versus the St. Louis Blues after center Mark Kastelic sustained a lower-body injury and will not return, the club announced.

Kastelic appeared to have suffered the injury following a heavy hip check by Blues veteran rearguard Ryan Suter.

The 25-year-old forward is skating in his first season with the Bruins following an offseason deal that sent star netminder Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators. As part of the deal, the Bruins also acquired goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and the 25th overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft that became budding center Dean Letourneau, now with the NCAA’s Boston Eagles.

On the season, Kastelic has made 18 appearances with the Bruins in which he has tallied three goals and four assists for seven points. Of note, the Phoenix, Ariz., native has put up a pair of multi-point performances this season, including a two-goal showing versus the rival Montreal Canadiens as well as a three-assist night against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Prior to joining the Bruins, Kastelic was part of the Senators for three seasons, where in a combined 144 appearances he registered 25 points counting 14 goals and 11 assists. During the 2022-23 campaign, he finished third on the Senators with 102 penalty minutes.

Originally chosen by the Senators in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Draft, Kastelic’s time in the pro ranks also counts part of three seasons with the AHL’s Belleville Senators. The hulking pivot was also a dominant presence at the junior level, where despite being twice passed over in the NHL draft, he excelled offensively over five seasons and 321 games with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen in which he registered 235 points counting 126 goals and 109 assists. A natural leader, Kastelic captained the Hitmen in his last two campaigns with the club.