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Kaut eager to start new pro career |
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Rick Sadowski
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The Avalanche kicked off their 2018 development camp on Thursday with off-ice medical tests, and they introduced six of last weekend’s 2018 draft picks at the Family Sports practice facility in suburban Centennial, Colo.
They’ll hold on-ice sessions Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and play a 3-on-3 game Sunday at EPIC/Blue Arena in Fort Collins, Colo., where they’ll have team activities Monday.
First-round pick (No. 16) forward Martin Kaut is among those participating in the program. His goal is to play in Colorado in the fall, whether it’s with the Avalanche or the AHL Eagles.
Kaut, who will turn 19 in October, had 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 38 games last season with HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Republic’s top pro league. He said he doesn’t want to play there next season or with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, who have his draft rights.
“I played two years against men, so I think it’s better for me where I will play next season, against men,” Kaut said. “The American Hockey League I think is better for me.”
What if the Avalanche prefer that he play with Brandon?
“So I must go to Brandon,” he said, laughing. “I think they say no, but we will see.”
Kaut said he’s discussed his preferences with the Avalanche, but general manager Joe Sakic will ultimately make the call.
Kaut, who is 6-feet-2 and 176 pounds, said he needs to get stronger and will work on that area when he returns home after the development camp.
“I’m a typical two-way player,” he said, adding he also wants to work on 1-on-1 play in the defensive zone.
When told that Sakic said he envisions him eventually developing into a top-six winger, Kaut responded: “Wow, I’m surprised.”
Kaut had a breakout performance at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championships, where he had seven points (two goals, five assists) in seven games.
Kaut had 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 10 games after he returned to Dynamo Pardubice. He added five points (three goals, two assists) in seven playoff games.
“I like his 200-foot game,” said Alan Hepple, the Avalanche’s director of amateur scouting. “He played with the men, he won battles, he’s fearless, he went in the corners and won puck battles. He had a nose for the net. I saw him score some great goals, skill goals you don’t see from a lot of kids that age playing against the men. He’s got a lot of upside.”
Kaut didn’t do any physical testing at the NHL Combine because of a rapid heartbeat, and he underwent a procedure to fix the problem as a precautionary measure after being examined by a specialist in Prague. He has been given full medical clearance.
Hepple said he wouldn’t have recommended selecting Kaut until being assured by Avalanche medical personnel that the issue was solved.
“He got checked out today and everything was fine,” Hepple said. “There were a lot of phone calls (before the draft) with the doctors to make sure he was OK before we made the pick.”
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The Salt Lake City-based Utah Grizzlies will be the Avalanche’s new ECHL affiliate. They replace the ECHL champion Colorado Eagles, who have moved up to the AHL.
“To have our young players be in a place that we trust is critical,” Avalanche assistant general manager Craig Billington told the Salt Lake Tribune. “We are young, we want to play fast, and we want to have an entertaining product, and we did that this season. My challenge is to make sure our affiliations buy into that plan. We have an expectation of winning and developing.
“Salt Lake City, from a geographical standpoint, is tremendous. It’s ideal. Ultimately, our management teams and our ownership lines up really well.”
Utah was previously affiliated with Anaheim.
“We have a lot to offer and so do they,” Grizzlies GM/coach Tim Branham said. “Colorado takes development very seriously. They are going to be very involved as we put together our roster and we can’t wait to get started. When you have the depth that they do, it makes everything easier.”
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