If you’re a Martin Kaut believer, he’s given you a reason to believe. If you’re a Martin Kaut doubter, he’s given you a reason to doubt. But he’s trending in the right direction through the start of preseason games, and AvalancheJared Bednar is encouraged to coach.
“His camp has been good,” Bednar said after Kaut posted a goal and an assist in Tuesday’s 5-2 preseason loss to Minnesota. “I’ve really liked him in the practices. … I thought he was a little quiet in the game the other night, but tonight he made an impact for us.”
Kaut, the Avalanche’s 2018 first-round pick, said at the beginning of training camp that he knows this might be his last chance to make the team. He has played in over 20 careers. NHLHe’s been playing in games, but hasn’t been able to stay with the big club consistently. Now 22, he’s looking to break through.
Two hooking penalties were committed by the winger in his preseason debut on Sunday. One was deep in the offensive zone. It’s the type of play coaches hate, but Bednar said, overall, Kaut played an OK game. He’s up to six penalty minutes in two preseason games after committing a boarding penalty Tuesday, but Bednar didn’t hold that against him; he didn’t think it should have been called.
Tuesday: Playing on the top line Alex NewhookAnd Charles HudonKaut was close to burying a breakaway in his first period.
