Senators sign forward Mark Kastelic to a three-year, entry-level contract

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators (@Senators) have signed centre Mark Kastelic to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Kastelic, 21, recently completed his fifth and final major junior season for the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen. Having skated in 58 of the Hitmen's 64 games, he paced the club in goals (38), and plus/minus rating (+30) while finishing in a tie for first in points (68). He also tied for the WHL lead with four shorthanded goals.

"Since being drafted just last June, Mark has worked hard to earn this contract," said Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. "We were pleased to see how he progressed in his overage season in Calgary, where he served as Hitmen captain for two consecutive seasons, and where he was on track to post his most productive major junior season. He's a solid two-way centre who shows strong attention to detail in his play."

A Phoenix native, Kastelic established new major junior career highs in goals (47), assists (30), points (77) and penalty minutes (122) during the 2018-19 season and led Calgary in post-season goals (six) while helping the team advance to the second round of the 2019 WHL playoffs.

Selected by the Senators with the team's fifth-round pick (125th overall) at the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver, Kastelic concluded his major junior career in third place among all-time Hitmen with 126 goals for the franchise. Upon the conclusion of the season, he led active WHL skaters in career power-play goals (46) and was tied for second with 402 career penalty minutes.

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