Martin Kaut will make his NHL debut Wednesday when the injury-riddled Avalanche take on the New York Islanders and probably former goalie
Semyon Varlamov at the Pepsi Center.
Kaut, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right wing who was the Avalanche’s first-round pick (No. 16) in the 2018 NHL draft, was recalled Monday night from the Colorado Eagles after
Mikko Rantanen sustained an upper-body injury (looked like his left shoulder) that will sideline him for “weeks” in Colorado’s 4-3 overtime loss to Tampa Bay.
My
NHL.com GAME STORY/RANTANEN INJURY
“It’s amazing for me, I’m super excited,” Kaut said Tuesday after taking part in an optional practice with a handful of players.
Kaut, 20, has played well in the past 21 games, collecting 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) after he failed to get a point in his first 10 games. He also missed time with an injury.
“I was pretty frustrated,” he said. “But lately I’ve played much better, and maybe that’s why I’m here. I had a meeting with (general manager)
Joe (Sakic) and he told me to just play my game. Shoot the puck, skating. For me, it’s my speed first. I think I’m a good skater, so I just have to use my speed and be good on forechecking. That’s my role probably.”
Kaut is a native of the Czech Republic and had 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 38 games as a teenager playing against older players for Pardubice in 2017-18. He had 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) in 63 games with the Eagles last season.
Coach
Jared Bednar said that Kaut likely will begin on the third line with
Matt Nieto and
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.
“I felt like he was bigger, stronger, quicker in training camp (than last season),” Bednar said. “From the looks of his play (with the Eagles) and from what the coaches are saying I think he’s been more consistent. He knows what he is as a player. Even down there he had to work for his chances, he’s got a real good shot and he’s got to take it when he has opportunities.
“He’s a pretty responsible 200-foot player. He has a little bit of jam to his game; he can play a physical style. It’s not a flashy game, it’s not a highly dynamic game, but he has to work for his chances, and that’s basically what all of us have to do at this point in the year. You got to go to work if you want to create scoring chances, so he should fit right in with our group.”
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Bednar didn't have anything new to report on the injuries to Rantanen or
Philipp Grubauer (day-to-day for now with a lower-body injury), both of whom were still being evaluated.
Nazem Kadri and
Matt Calvert remain out indefinitely with lower-body injuries, along with
Colin Wilson – remember him? Wilson was at the game Saturday and said even he doesn’t know when he’ll be able to play. He is recovering from surgery and no longer needs crutches.
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The NHL trading deadline is Monday.
TSN’s Frank Seravalli reports that the Avalanche and Boston are frontrunners for New York Rangers forward
Chris Kreider, who apparently would prefer to stay. Would take a lot to get him.
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