Kastelic has been out since the first week of November and feels like he's ready to play right now.
The Ottawa Senators injury list is about to get a little smaller. Senators head coach DJ Smith had some good news about centre Mark Kastelic on Monday morning.
"He's getting closer, (but) won’t play tomorrow," Smith said. ”We'll get him in some practices and hopefully get him in on this trip."
Kastelic wore a regular jersey at Monday's practice and spoke to the media afterward on his potential return to the lineup.
I feel pretty good out there," Kastelic said. “I mean, my opinion, I feel like I'm ready to go. It's just up to some higher levels up to make that decision.”
It's interesting that Kastelic would insinuate that the club's "higher levels up" are keeping him out of the lineup for tomorrow's home game against Carolina. Kastelic did add that he was eyeing the upcoming five-game road trip for his return and specifically playing in his hometown of Phoenix.
“Something I've circled for a while now, to go home," Kastelic said. “(I’ve been) targeting that for a while. That's kind of motivation to get back.”
The big centreman has been held pointless in nine games this season. At 6-foot-3, Kastelic has always been an intriguing mix of size and speed, winning the club's fastest skater competition last January.
With the Sens finally healthy down the middle, Kastelic was being used as a winger, leading up to his injury. He and Zack MacEwen both skated as extras today.
Senators lines at practice:
Tkachuk-Norris-Giroux
Tarasenko-Stützle- Batherson
Kubalik-Greig-Joseph
Smejkal-Chartier-Kelly
Extras: MacEwen, Kastelic.
Sanderson-JBD
Chychrun-Zub
Brannstrom-Hamonic