Sharks deny Kaut's claim of AHL coach forcing him to fight

The San Jose Sharks denied claims by former forward Martin Kaut that a coach from the club's AHL affiliate pressured him to fight opponents.

"Let us be unequivocally clear that no such direction was ever given or insinuated by the members of the Sharks or Barracuda coaching or hockey staffs," the Sharks said in a statement obtained by Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.

Kaut left the Sharks organization this offseason to sign in his native Czechia. In an interview with Czech news outlet iDNES, he said one of his AHL coaches picked an opponent each game for him to fight. Kaut claimed when he refused, the coach said that's why he isn't in the NHL.

"One time, he pointed to (Calgary Wranglers forward) Adam Klapka," Kaut said. "Wow, the kid's 230 pounds, 6-foot-8, and I'm supposed to fight him? My countryman on top of it? Hell no."

Kaut endured numerous injuries after the Colorado Avalanche drafted him 16th overall in 2018.

"I've had three concussions and injured my shoulder twice," Kaut said. "If I fought the guys they picked for me, I'd go down and still get hurt. He made me fight anyway, it really bothered me.

"I would have fought for any good reason, no question. When the game's sold out, it escalates, or when you're defending a teammate. But to fight someone just for the sake of it? I'm supposed to be on the ice to score goals."

Colorado traded Kaut to San Jose in January. He suited up in nine games for the Sharks and 19 contests in the minors. He's made 56 career NHL appearances and notched 11 points.