Bastian was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and later signed to a three-year, entry-level contract on October 20, 2016.[2] He was taken after Mississauga Steelheads teammate and close friend Michael McLeod was drafted earlier by the Devils in the first round of the draft.[citation needed]
During the 2018–19 season, after 43 games with the Devils' AHL affiliate in Binghamton, Bastian received his first recall to New Jersey on January 19, 2019.[3] He made his NHL debut that night, getting into his first fight against Josh Manson in a 3–2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at the Prudential Center.[4] With the All-Star break approaching, Bastian was returned to the AHL following his lone appearance.[5] On February 25, Bastian scored his first NHL goal in a 2–1 win against the Montreal Canadiens.[6] On June 15, 2021, Bastian was re-signed to a two-year contract by the Devils.[7]
On July 21, 2021, Bastian was selected from the Devils at the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft by the Seattle Kraken.[8] Remaining on the Kraken's opening roster for the 2021–22 season, Bastian in a fourth-line role added a physical edge and appeared in 12 games with the expansion club, scoring his lone goal for the team in a 5–4 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on November 6.[9] Having been demoted as a healthy scratch, Bastian returned to the Devils after being placed on waivers by the Kraken on November 25.[10]
On May 3, 2023, Bastian scored his first career NHL playoff goal in a 5–1 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes.[11]
On July 1, 2023, Bastian signed a two-year, $2.7 million contract to stay with the Devils.[12] On February 22, 2024, Bastian left the game after two periods after suffering an injury as the Devils lost 5–1 to the New York Rangers.[13] The following day he was placed on injured reserve by the Devils.[14]
