Mark Kastelic has long cherished the Black & Gold.

Growing up, the Arizona native heard the stories from his grandfather, Pat Stapleton, who was a defenseman for the Bruins from 1961-63.

And now, the 25-year-old will get to proudly pull the same Spoked-B over his head.

“It’s super exciting…for me and my family and everyone around me,” said Kastelic, who was acquired via trade from Ottawa along with goalie Joonas Korpisalo in exchange for Linus Ullmark. “You see the ‘B’ and they’re just known worldwide. The amount of history they have in the organization. For me, it’s even special that my grandpa played for them for a little bit as well. It’s just really exciting to play for an Original Six.

“It’s something that as a player you always dream about getting that opportunity and what better place to join a team in Boston. Just really excited to be back in the United States as an American guy. Boston’s a great city. You can’t really beat it…I can’t say it enough how excited I am to join it with the history they have.”

Stapleton spent the first two seasons of his NHL career in Boston, suiting up for 90 games, before going to play eight years with the Chicago Blackhawks.

“It means a lot [to my family],” Kastelic, whose father Ed and uncle Mike Stapleton also played in the NHL. “It means a lot to be following in my dad and grandpa’s footsteps, just being in the NHL, first of all, and getting to wear the same jersey that he’s worn in the past is something that personally for me is really cool and I don’t think very many guys get that opportunity.

“He started his NHL career with them. It’s not something I ever thought would be possible and now it is. It’s gonna be fun.”

Stapleton wore two numbers during his time with the Bruins, No. 11 and…No. 4, the latter of which he knows will remain high above the ice in the TD Garden rafters.

“I believe he was No. 4 before Bobby Orr, obviously,” Kastelic said with a chuckle. “I’ve worn 12 in the past to honor him. I try to honor him and my dad with the numbers they wore in the past if I can.”

Stapleton, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 79, had a strong influence on Kastelic’s hockey career, encouraging him to play a strong all-around style.

“He’s told me a lot of stories,” said Kastelic. “He had a huge part in my upbringing and taught me a lot about the game, about being an all-around player and a high IQ player…he always taught me about the mental side of the game as well, which I take more value in than anything and just being positive in all situations no matter what.

“The game was so different back then that the stories are just pretty interesting to hear. I take a lot with me to this day of what he’s taught me along the way.”

Kastelic acknowledged that he was caught off guard by the trade which came just minutes before the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers squared off in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. But as disappointed as he was to leave his Senators teammates, he is equally excited to begin a new chapter of his career in Boston.

“I was pretty shocked,” said Kastelic. “It was right before Game 7, wasn’t expecting anything at all. Got the call that everything was going down. Obviously was a little bit sad to leave my teammates and that city but that kind of started to go away pretty quickly. Was just filled with a ton of excitement to join Boston. I’ve heard nothing but good things about everybody there.”

The 6-foot-4, 226-pound forward had five goals and 10 points for the Senators in 63 games last season. Overall, he has played 144 NHL games – all with Ottawa – over three seasons.

“So far, expectations are similar to what I’ve been in the past – bottom-six type guy, good on draws, bring a lot of physicality to the lineup,” said Kastelic. “That’s the expectation for right now. As any player, you want to try to improve and grow and do whatever you can to work your way up the lineup and just be a guy that can play anywhere up and down the lineup, play center, play wing. Just be good on draws, reliable all-around player.”

Kastelic is also eager to experience the culture in the Bruins dressing room, which is well-regarded across the NHL.

“The first thing that everybody was telling me when I would talk to everybody about coming to Boston was how great the group is and how close they are and how good of a culture they have,” said Kastelic. “It’s pretty well-known around the league at this point. Just obviously the history with that organization going back 100 years now.

“They definitely do everything the right way. As a player it’s exciting to join that and all you want to do is contribute in a positive way to it.”