It’s happening again. The Avalanche are slowly succumbing to injuries with goaltender Philipp Grubauer and forwards Matt Calvert, Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen all on the shelf for the foreseeable future. Grubauer is listed as day to day while all three forwards will miss “weeks not days” according to head coach Jared Bednar. Not exactly what you want with 24 games remaining and only one point separating the top three teams in the Central Division.
It also means it’s decision time for Joe Sakic and the Avalanche hierarchy on who gets the call up’s from their AHL affiliate, Colorado Eagles. Hunter Miska was always going to be the one to back up Pavel Francouz. The goaltender, who only last week signed a contract with the Avalanche, has a SV% of .919 in 22 games with the Eagles and a goals allowed stat of 2.62.
TJ Tynan also received the call up just before Saturday’s Stadium Series 3-1 loss to the L.A. Kings and with 40 points in 34 games for the Eagles it was easy to see why. Tynan also got called up earlier in the season, playing 15 games and registering just one point.
With Mikko Rantanen leaving Monday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning with an upper body injury it was time for Sakic to delve into his affiliate one more time. The most common names being mentioned as possible call up’s after the game were Logan O’Connor, Sheldon Dries and Jayson Megna. Players who have all played at the NHL level at some point. One reporter even asked Bednar about the possibility of Shane Bowers. Bednar wouldn’t get drawn on the situation and simply said Sakic would decide.
Then came the tweet on Tuesday morning.
We have recalled Martin Kaut from the Colorado Eagles. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/alrcd5fuze
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 18, 2020
Martin Kaut was the Avalanche’s surprise 2018 first round draft pick after missing the combine due to a congenital heart condition that required surgery and moved to Colorado shortly after. He played all last season with the Colorado Eagles putting up 26 points in 63 games. However, this season started slow for the Czech Republic prospect. Failing to register a point in his first seven games he was then diagnosed with a concussion which hindered his progress and it began to look like the Av’s were ready to move on.
Rumors swirled during the Taylor Hall trade sweepstakes that Kaut was a part of the package the Avalanche were offering the New Jersey Devils in exchange for the 2018 Hart Trophy winner.
This didn’t happen, with Hall ending up in Arizona, and Kaut’s season began to take off. 16 points in the the last 21 games, Kaut has been learning to play the third line role the Avalanche will likely need from him under Eagles coach Greg Cronin with efficiency and while Sakic could have gone the easy route and called up Dries, Megna or O’Connor this is the right move given Kaut’s recent performances.
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There’s also the possibility Martin Kaut could be moved before this weekend with Mile High Hockey’s Scott MacDonald tweeting this morning that the Avalanche could trade him to the New York Rangers.
Here's my guess based on some knowledge on the situation…
— Scott MacDonald (@0ffScottFree) February 18, 2020
Kaut is heading to the NY Rangers by this weekend.
To NY:
Kaut, 1st, Kamenev, a conditional pick
To COL:
Chris Kreider, late-round pick
OR…
To NY:
Kaut, 1st, conditional
To COL:
Ryan Strome, late-round pick
This would be a turn around from Sakic telling him earlier in the season (during the Taylor Hall situation) that he remains very much a part of the Avalanche future. If he remains at Colorado, Martin Kaut will make his NHL debut on Wednesday at the Pepsi Center against the New York Islanders with the likely possibility he will also join the team on this weekend’s Southern California trip to take on the Anaheim Ducks and L.A. Kings.
