Teenage rookie Martin Kaut on Sunday continued to play with forwards who will make the Avalanche’s opening-night roster, providing further proof the club will give its 2018 first-round draft pick a long look this preseason.
In Day 3 of training camp, Kaut, 18, was again the right wing ‘s line, along with left winger Alex Kerfoot. Jost is expected to become the Avs’ second-line center and coach said he wants to keep Kerfoot and Jost together.
Based on contracts and the Avs’ not having any injured forwards, Kaut won’t be on the roster to begin the season. But the youngest player in camp doesn’t look out of place on the ice and figures to make his NHL debut at some point this season.
“Heckuva shot and you can tell he has a lot of skill,” Jost said of Kaut, a Czech Republic native playing in his first year in North America. “He’s a big kid and he’s got a lot of raw talent. It’s fun to play with him. His English isn’t too good but ‘Kerf’ and I are trying to talk to him as much as possible and ease him into things.”
Bednar didn’t meet with the media Sunday but the Jost line is expected to remain intact and play in most preseason games. Kaut is eligible to play for the Colorado Eagles — the Avs’ new American Hockey League affiliate in Loveland — but could also play major-junior or a third season in a professional Czech league. Bednar on Saturday said that he expects Kaut to report to the Eagles if he doesn’t stick with the Avs.
Kaut is optimistic.
“I have great linemates. Great players,” Kaut said of Jost and Kerfoot — who were rookies last season. “I think I have a good chance. We will see after preseason games. I think Coach Bednar said he will give me a chance, so we’ll see.”
The Avs’ other lines Sunday included the top grouping of center with wingers and , and young Russian Vladislav Kamenev with veterans and .
The other lines are spread thin, but the dominate twosomes are center with left wing and second-year center with free-agent newcomer .
The Avs are carrying 31 forwards and will only keep 13 or 14 on the 23-man, regular-season roster. So beyond the MacKinnon and Jost lines, things are bound to change.
Colorado concludes its training camp with a fourth session Monday before opening the preseason Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights at the .
