Martin Kaut
Czech right winger drafted 16th overall by Colorado in 2018.
Martin Kaut (born 2 October 1999) is a Czech professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga. He was drafted 16th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2018 NHL entry draft.
Kaut began his junior career with HC Žďár nad Sázavou, playing through the under-16 level. In the 2014–15 season, he led the Czech U16 team in goals with 37. He then joined HC Dynamo Pardubice, playing for their U18 and U20 teams before making his professional debut in the Czech Extraliga at age 17 during the 2016–17 season. That year, he recorded one assist in 26 games while also posting 16 points in 22 games with the under-20 team. The Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL selected him 24th overall in the 2017 CHL Import Draft.
In his first full season with Pardubice in 2017–18, Kaut scored 9 goals and 7 assists for 16 points, making him the youngest player on the roster. He finished with the second-most points among players under 20 in the league, trailing only Martin Nečas. In the playoffs, he tied for second on Pardubice in scoring with 5 points in 7 games.
His strong play in the Extraliga playoffs and World Juniors boosted his draft stock, moving him from 11th to 4th on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s international skater rankings. However, a possible congenital heart condition discovered at the NHL Scouting Combine required minor ablation surgery, preventing him from participating. After recovering and learning the initial diagnosis was incorrect, Kaut attended the 2018 draft and was selected 16th overall by Colorado.
On 5 July 2018, Kaut signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Avalanche. He attended his first training camp and played preseason games alongside Tyson Jost and Alexander Kerfoot. On 27 September 2018, he was assigned to the Colorado Eagles of the AHL. He made his North American debut on 5 October 2018, collecting an assist in an overtime loss to the Chicago Wolves, and scored his first AHL goal on 20 October 2018 in a 5–3 win over the Ontario Reign. After 12 points in 26 games, he was loaned to the 2019 World Junior Championships on 21 December 2018. He finished his rookie AHL season with 12 goals and 26 points in 63 games, scoring his first two playoff goals on 27 April 2019 in a 5–2 loss to the Bakersfield Condors, as the Eagles lost the series 3–1.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Right wing
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 2
- Weight Lb
- 190
- Shoots
- Right
- Birth Date
- 1999-10-02
- League
- ELH
- Team
- HC Dynamo Pardubice
- Former Teams
- Colorado Avalanche / San Jose Sharks
- Birth Place
- Brno, Czech Republic
- Ntl Team
- CZE
- Draft
- 16th overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Kaut played junior hockey with HC Žďár nad Sázavou through the under-16 level, scoring 37 goals on the Czech U16 team in 2014–15. He signed with HC Dynamo Pardubice and made his professional debut as a 17-year-old in the Czech Extraliga during 2016–17. In his first full season with Pardubice in 2017–18, he scored 9 goals and 7 assists for 16 points as the youngest player on the roster, finishing with the second most points of any player under 20 in the league. His playoff performance and World Juniors play raised his draft stock, though a possible congenital heart condition discovered at the NHL Scouting Combine required minor ablation surgery; after recovery, he attended the 2018 draft and was selected 16th overall by Colorado.
Kaut signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Avalanche on 5 July 2018 and was assigned to the Colorado Eagles of the AHL. He made his NHL debut on 19 February 2020, registered his first NHL point (a game-winning assist) on 22 February 2020, and scored his first NHL goal on 26 February 2020. During the delayed 2020–21 season, he was loaned to HC Dynamo Pardubice and later to Modo Hockey of the Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan. In the 2022–23 season, he appeared in a career-high 27 NHL games with Colorado, recording 1 goal and 3 points. On 25 January 2023, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks alongside Jacob MacDonald for Matt Nieto and Ryan Merkley. As a restricted free agent, he returned to HC Dynamo Pardubice on a two-year contract on 6 July 2023.
Reader's Guide
Martin Kaut's significance lies in being a first-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche who developed through the Czech system and the AHL before earning NHL time. His draft year was marked by a heart condition scare that required surgery but ultimately did not prevent his selection. Kaut's NHL career with Colorado spanned parts of three seasons, peaking at 27 games in 2022–23, but he never secured a full-time roster spot. His tenure with the Avalanche ended in a trade to the San Jose Sharks in January 2023. After one season in the Sharks organization, he chose to return to his original Czech club, HC Dynamo Pardubice, signing a two-year contract in July 2023 while his NHL rights remained with San Jose. Kaut also represented the Czech Republic at the World Juniors in 2018 and 2019, recording 7 points in 7 games in 2018 and being named among the top three players for his team in 2019.
Did You Know?
- Kaut scored the most goals on the Czech U16 team in 2014–15 with 37.
- He was selected 24th overall in the 2017 CHL Import Draft by the Brandon Wheat Kings.
- Kaut's first NHL point was a game-winning assist on a J. T. Compher goal.
- He was traded to the San Jose Sharks on 25 January 2023 alongside Jacob MacDonald.
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