The Boston Bruins have a pretty nice lineage of big, rangy defenders recently. First there was future Hall of Famer Zdeno Chara, then Adam McQuaid, Brandon Carlo and now Nikita Zadorov. Perhaps in the near future, Kristian Kostadinski will join those ranks.

Kostadinski is a 6-foot-6, 220-pound defenseman whom the Bruins drafted in the seventh round of the 2023 draft. Playing for Sweden at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Michigan, he has used his imposing size and defensive prowess to stand out on the Tre Kronor blueline. And in a tournament that has been chippier than one might have anticipated for early August, Kostadinski has brought a much-needed edge to his team.

“Yeah, I like it,” he said of the physicality. “When we play USA or Canada, I like those harder games.”

Playing on the smaller North American ice surface has often been a challenge for European kids, but for Kostadinski, it’s an advantage. There’s nowhere to hide when he’s patrolling the left side of the ice and his experience with various national teams has meant a familiarity with the rinks over here.

“For my game, it’s better on the small ice,” he said. “I go in and out of the corners faster. It’s good for me.”

Born and raised in Gothenburg, Kostadinski is a product of the famed Frolunda program, whose recent NHL alumni include the likes of Rasmus Dahlin and Lucas Raymond. Needless to say, the organization holds a special place in his heart.

“It has meant so much,” Kostadinski said. “I played there my whole life, starting when I was young. They taught me everything about hockey and life.”

Now Kostadinski is setting out for North America. He will play this season in the USHL with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, a team known for developing European talent under GM Kalle Larsson, who was recently hired by the Edmonton Oilers as their senior director of player development. Playing for the Fighting Saints will allow Kostadinski to hone his game while maintaining his NCAA eligibility and he has already scouted out one school.

“I just visited Boston College when I was at development camp in Boston and it was so amazing, so nice,” he said. “It was so different from Sweden and that was special. Just how big it was…it was so nice.”

While that assessment probably has Eagles fans all a-flutter, Kostadinski also noted that everything over here is new to him, so he plans on checking out other spots this upcoming season before he makes a final decision. He also wants to be patient with his development and spent development camp soaking in everything the Bruins brass were telling him.

“They see me as a defensive defenseman who plays hard,” Kostadinski said. “I need to get better with my skating and they’re helping me with that right now. Their development guy is Adam McQuaid and he has helped me a lot; he’s a really good guy.”

Kostadinski also noted that Zadorov is one of the current NHLers he likes to watch, so between the new free agent and McQuaid, the youngster has definitely found his Black and Gold mentors.

With continued work on his mobility (which, from my perspective, is already pretty decent) and more time building up his imposing frame, Kostadinski has the chance to join that parade of big, tough Boston stoppers. And if he can help Sweden snag a medal at the 2025 world juniors in Ottawa, all the better.