Senators sign Mark Kastelic to two-year extension

The Ottawa Senators have announced that forward Mark Kastelic has signed a two-year contract worth $835,000 per season.

Kastelic, 23, has two goals in six games for the Senators while averaging 8:23 of ice time per game. In 16 outings last year, Kastelic had two goals, four points and 14 penalty minutes in a depth role with the club.

Kastelic is known for his feisty playing style while also being capable of contributing offense from in close. In 2018-19 with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, he had 47 goals, 77 points and 122 penalty minutes, making him one of the most feared players in the league at the time.

Kastelic made an impact with the Belleville Senators last year with 14 goals and 28 points and 87 penalty minutes, allowing him to earn a role in Ottawa’s bottom six for 2022-23.

Kastelic was set to become an RFA this coming summer. The Senators have most of the team’s core signed long term, including Brady Tkachuk (2028), Tim Stutzle (2031), Thomas Chabot (2028) and Drake Batherson (2027). Shane Pinto and Alex DeBrincat are both pending RFAs and won’t come cheap. That’s especially true for Pinto, who will receive a healthy raise from his $925,000 AAV entry-level deal.

So having someone like Kastelic, who brings value at a cheap price, signed for two years is a nice, simple move by GM Pierre Dorion.