After a sparkling two-goal, five-assist performance at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, a mature and confident Martin Kaut kept climbing draft boards in the second half of the season to cement his status as legitimate first-round selection in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Kaut is an efficient two-way player that demonstrates a keen understanding of his role when he doesn't have the puck. He realizes how his movement to certain areas can deconstruct the opposition's defensive structure, and he is a very smart player in his own end of the ice with smart routes on the backcheck, a commitment to winning pucks, and a clear desire to use his body to separate his check from the puck.
With a high level of functional intelligence, Kaut has proven to be equally effective when he has the puck on his stick, displaying quick processing when gaining the zone and an excellent playmaking sense below the faceoff circles.
He can deliver precise passes when he sees a teammate's stick in prime position, especially when given extra space with the man-advantage, but he also has a sneaky fast wrist shot that saw him score nine times as part of a 16-point campaign in 38 games this season with HC Dynamo Pardubice in Czech Republic's top professional league.
Kaut's reliability and commitment to the team game saw him make the Czech Republic's initial roster for the season ending World Championship, ahead of the more highly touted draft-eligible Filip Zadina, before a late influx of North American professional talent bumped him off the squad.
During a routine physical at the NHL Combine, a heart issue was detected that precluded Kaut from participating in the fitness testing. Per reports, though, the issue should not diminish his draft stock in any way.
With a great deal of substance and very little flash in his game, all signs point to Kaut being a safe bet to nail down middle-line duty in short order as a North American professional.
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For more on all the youngsters in the Sabres pipeline, check out Kris Baker's website, SabresProspects.com. You can also follow him on Twitter (@SabresProspects).
