Martin Kaut

Martin Kaut
Kaut in 2024
Born	(1999-10-02) 2 October 1999 (age 24) Brno, Czech Republic
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shoots	Right
ELH team Former teams	HC Dynamo Pardubice Colorado Avalanche San Jose Sharks
National team	Czech Republic
NHL draft	16th overall, 2018 Colorado Avalanche
Playing career	2016–present

Martin Kaut (born 2 October 1999) is a Czech professional ice hockey forward currently playing for HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, 16th overall, in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Czech Republic

Kaut played junior hockey with youth club, HC Žďár nad Sázavou, through to the under-16 level. As a natural Winger, Kaut showed initial potential for a nose to the net by scoring the most goals on the Czech U16 team with 37 in the 2014–15 season. ^[1]

Signed to professional club, HC Dynamo Pardubice, Kaut played in their junior U18 and U20 teams, before making his professional debut as a 17-year old in the Czech Extraliga during the 2016–17 season. He registered 1 assist in 26 games, while splitting the season with the under-20 team, registering 16 points in 22 games. ^[2] As an emerging NHL eligible draft prospect, he was selected 24th overall in the 2017 CHL Import Draft by major junior club, the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Opting to continue with professional career, and in his first full season with Dynamo Pardubice in 2017–18, Kaut improved his overall impact, showing a strong two-way ability in scoring 9 goals and adding 7 assists for 16 points as the youngest player on the team's roster. He finished the season with the second most points of any player under the age of 20 in the league, only trailing Martin Nečas. ^[3] Elevating his play in the post-season, Kaut finished tied second on Pardubice in scoring with 5 points in 7 playoff contests.

Kaut's standout play in the Extraliga playoffs and World Juniors led to a rise in the winger's draft stock, climbing from eleventh on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau International skater ranks to finishing the year fourth on the list. However, with the intention to impress at the NHL Scouting Combine, Kaut was unable to participate due to a possible congenital heart condition that was discovered in testing and required minor ablation surgery. ^[4] Having recovered from surgery, discovering he didn't have the condition that was initially diagnosed, Kaut was able to attend the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and was selected in the first-round, 16th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche. ^[5]

Colorado Avalanche

On 5 July 2018, Kaut was signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche. ^[6] In leaving the Czech Republic, Kaut attended his first training camp with the Avalanche in 2018, and quickly adapted to the North American game through the pre-season, playing in contests alongside Tyson Jost and Alexander Kerfoot. ^[7] Eligible to continue his development in the American Hockey League due to his European status, Kaut was assigned to primary affiliate, the Colorado Eagles for their inaugural 2018–19 season in the AHL on 27 September 2018. ^{[8] [9]}

He made his North American debut and collected an assist in the Eagles opening night overtime defeat to the Chicago Wolves on 5 October 2018. ^[10] He later notched his first goal in his sixth AHL game, a 5–3 victory over the Ontario Reign on 20 October 2018. ^[11] In playing on the top two scoring lines with the Eagles, Kaut scored 12 points through 26 games before he was loaned by the Avalanche to participate in the 2019 World Junior Championships on 21 December 2018. ^[12] Kaut returned to the Eagles following the Tournament, finishing his rookie season with 12 goals and 26 points in 63 regular season games. He recorded his first two playoffs goals in a 5–2 defeat to the Bakersfield Condors on 27 April 2019, unable to prevent the Eagles suffering a 3–1 series defeat in the first-round. ^[13]

In the following 2019–20 season, after participating in the Avalanche's 2019 training camp, Kaut was among the final two rounds of cuts reassigned to continue his development in the AHL. ^[14] He opened the season with the Eagles going scoreless in 7 games before suffering a concussion against the San Jose Barracuda on 26 October 2019. ^[15] He returned after two months and regained his scoring touch in collecting 16 points in 24 games in return from his concussion before earning his first NHL recall by the injury-hit Avalanche on 18 February 2020. ^[16] He made his NHL debut with the Avalanche playing on the fourth-line in a 3–1 victory over the New York Islanders at the Pepsi Center on 19 February 2020. ^[17] He registered his first NHL point, a game-winning assist on a J. T. Compher goal, in his next game with the Avalanche of 1–0 win over the Anaheim Ducks on 22 February 2020. ^[18] In his fourth game, Kaut notched his first NHL goal against Carter Hutton, in a 3–1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on 26 February 2020. ^[19] He helped the Avalanche to seven straight victories in his first seven games before he was later returned to Colorado Eagles, due to contract considerations, on 5 March 2020. ^{[20] [ non-primary source needed ]}

Approaching the off-season with the 2020–21 delayed North American season, Kaut remained in the Czech Republic, loaned by the Colorado Avalanche to resume playing with former club, HC Dynamo Pardubice of the ELH on 12 September 2020. ^[21] In Pardubice's opening home game, Kaut recorded the overtime winner in a 3–2 victory over HC Plzeň on 20 September 2020. ^[22] Concentrating on playing a two-way physical game, Kaut recorded 1 point in 4 games before the season was paused due to the rising continuance of the COVID pandemic in the Czech Republic. ^[23] With his initial loan agreement set to expire in early November and with the need to continue to play, Kaut was reassigned by the Avalanche, leaving Dynamo Pardubice to join Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan club, Modo Hockey, on 26 October 2020. ^[24] Kaut recorded a goal and an assist through his first 4 games with Modo before suffering injury. In returning to health, Kaut played 8 games in total collecting 5 points, before his loan was ended and he returned to North America to prepare for training camp with the Avalanche. ^[25]

Approaching his fifth year within the Avalanche organization in the 2022–23 season, Kaut failed to make the opening night roster and was familiarly re-assigned after clearing waivers to AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. He was soon recalled to the Avalanche due to a spate of injuries and appeared in a career high 27 games in registering just 1 goal and 3 points in a depth forward role.

San Jose Sharks

On 25 January 2023, while on assignment with the Eagles, Kaut's tenure with the Avalanche ended as he was traded alongside Jacob MacDonald to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Matt Nieto and fellow 2018 first-round pick, Ryan Merkley. He was immediately re-assigned to the Sharks AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. ^{[26] [27]}

Return to Pardubice

As a restricted free agent with the Sharks in the following off-season, Kaut opted to return to the Czech Republic in signing a two-year contract with his original club, HC Dynamo Pardubice of the ELH, on 6 July 2023, with his NHL rights continued to be held by the Sharks. ^[28]

International play

Medal record
Representing   Czech Republic
Ice hockey
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
	2016 Czech Republic/Slovakia

Kaut first represented the Czech Republic at the 2016 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, in a 7th-place finish. Kaut had a goal and three assists in five games as a 16-year old and a member of his country's first gold-medal at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. ^[1]

Kaut emerged as a standout at the 2018 World Junior Championships in Buffalo, New York, where he ranked fourth on the team with 7 points in 7 games en route to a fourth-place finish at the tournament. His five assists were tied for third on the team and second among the Czech forwards, while playing on the top scoring line alongside Filip Zadina and Martin Nečas. ^[29]

Kaut returned for the 2019 World Junior Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia, after he was loaned during his first professional North American season within the Colorado Avalanche organization. ^[12] In the opening game of the Tournament, Kaut scored and added the primary assist in a 2–1 overtime victory against Switzerland, to be named player of the game, on 26 December 2018. ^[30] Helping the Czechs advance to the knockout rounds, Kaut scored the lone goal in a 3–1 elimination defeat to the United States on 2 January 2019. He was selected among the top 3 players for the Czech team in a 7th-place finish. ^[31]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2016–17	HC Dynamo Pardubice	Czech.20		22	4	16	22	24		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	HC Dynamo Pardubice	ELH		26	0	1	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	HC Dynamo Pardubice	ELH		38	9	7	16	14		7	3	2	5	4
2018–19	Colorado Eagles	AHL		63	12	14	26	34		4	2	0	2	4
2019–20	Colorado Eagles	AHL		34	5	13	18	33		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		9	2	1	3	2		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	HC Dynamo Pardubice	ELH		4	1	0	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Modo Hockey	Allsv		8	3	2	5	6		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		5	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Colorado Eagles	AHL		20	6	10	16	10		2	0	1	1	0
2021–22	Colorado Eagles	AHL		46	19	12	31	26		9	1	4	5	6
2021–22	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		6	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Colorado Eagles	AHL		10	5	3	8	0		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		27	1	2	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	San Jose Barracuda	AHL		19	3	11	14	8		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	San Jose Sharks	NHL		9	3	2	5	0		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	HC Dynamo Pardubice	ELH		30	14	15	29	12		16	5	4	9	4
ELH totals				98	24	23	47	34		23	8	6	14	8
NHL totals				56	6	5	11	10		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2015	Czech Republic	U17	7th		5	1	1	2	4
2016	Czech Republic	IH18			5	1	3	4	6
2017	Czech Republic	U18	7th		5	1	1	2	16
2018	Czech Republic	WJC	4th		7	2	5	7	6
2019	Czech Republic	WJC	7th		5	3	1	4	14
2023	Czech Republic	WC	8th		7	1	0	1	0
Junior totals					27	8	11	19	46
Senior totals					7	1	0	1	0

References

1. "Martin Kaut: Draft profile". thehockeywriters.com. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
2. "2018 NHL draft profile: Martin Kaut, a Czech winger similar to Jakub Voracek". NBC Sports . 11 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
3. "Kaut showing he is a top prospect". Colorado Avalanche. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
4. "Heart scare behind him, Martin Kaut eager to play for Eagles". Fort Collins Coloradoan . 28 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
5. "Avalanche selects Martin Kaut in first round". Colorado Avalanche. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
6. "Avalanche signs Martin Kaut". Colorado Avalanche. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
7. "Avalanche continues to give Martin Kaut a long look". The Denver Post . 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
8. "What should Avalanche do with Martin Kaut". milehighhockey.com. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
9. "Avalanche reduces training camp roster to 29 players". Colorado Avalanche. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
10. "Chicago Wolves 3 Colorado Eagles 2 (OT)". American Hockey League. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
11. "Eagles 5 defeat Reign 3". American Hockey League. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
12. "Martin Kaut to represent Czech Republic at World Juniors". Colorado Avalanche. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
13. "Eagles 2, Condors 5 Game Summary". American Hockey League. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
14. "Avalanche re-assigns eight players". Colorado Avalanche. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
15. Ryan S. Clark (18 December 2019). "This has been a year of development for Martin Kaut in more ways then one". The Athletic . Retrieved 18 December 2019.
16. Ryan S. Clark (18 February 2020). "Joe Sakic believed now the Avs must too with Martin Kaut". The Athletic . Retrieved 18 February 2020.
17. "Martin Kaut debut a dream come true". The Denver Post . 19 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
18. "Francouz makes 26 saves for first NHL shutout". National Hockey League. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
19. "Avalanche defeat Sabres, gain in central division". National Hockey League. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
20. Colorado Avalanche (5 March 2020). "Martin Kaut re-assigned to Eagles" . Retrieved 5 March 2020– via Twitter.
21. "Martin Kaut will begin the season with Dynamo" (in Czech). HC Dynamo Pardubice. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
22. "Kaut decides game in Overtime" (in Czech). HC Dynamo Pardubice. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
23. "Martin Kaut is leaving Pardubice". HC Dynamo Pardubice. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
24. "Only 4 matches in the ELH, Kaut says farewell and goes to club where Forsberg grew up" (in Czech). hokej.cz. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
25. "Martin Kaut returning to Avalanche". coloradohockeynow.com. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
26. "Avs get Nieto, Merkley from Sharks for Kaut, MacDonald". The Sports Network. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
27. "Sharks acquire MacDonald and Kaut from Colorado". San Jose Sharks. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
28. "Return from the NHL! Dynamo will be strengthened by Martin Kaut" (in Czech). HC Dynamo Pardubice. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
29. "Kaut climbed up the rankings with breakthrough year". habseyeontheprize.com. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
30. "Game summary Czech v Switzerland" (PDF). IIHF . 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
31. "U.S. eliminates Czechs". IIHF . 2 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Cale Makar	Colorado Avalanche first round draft pick 2018	Succeeded by Bowen Byram