Avalanche draft Martin Kaut 16th overall

The Colorado Avalanche selected Martin Kaut with the 16th overall pick in the NHL draft on Friday night.

Martin Kaut

Position: Right Wing
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 176 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Pardubice Jr. (CZREP -JR.)
Nationality: Czech

Kaut might not have the softest hands like a Patrick Kane or Nathan MacKinnon, but he possesses a heavy shot and great vision. He also has brute size and strength which make him a handful to contain around the net, where he can usually be found, especially when his club is on the power play.

"Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to make moves in tight. He can also score by pouncing on rebounds or tipping in shots. Kaut has a very good wrist shot. It is accurate and powerful. He can fool goaltenders from further out with a quick release. Kaut's snapshot is also above average. He can work on his one-timer, though. A smart player, Kaut finds the soft spots in the defense to be open for these shots." - Ben Kerr, Last Word on Hockey.

At this year's World Junior Hockey Championship, Kaut was a force for the Czech Republic, posting seven points in seven games. He jumped up to fourth among European Skaters on the NHL's Central Scouting final rankings - up seven spots from the midterm rankings.