Former San Jose Sharks forward Martin Kaut claimed that he was forced by coaches to fight other players in order to be called up to the Sharks after an interview with a Czechia news outlet Sunday, July 16.
iDNES, a Czech news outlet, released an interview with Kaut about his season in San Jose. Within the interview, Kaut claimed that coaches asked him to fight specific opponents throughout the season and that the reason he didn’t get called up to the NHL more was because of his refusal to fight.
“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.”
Kaut, who was traded to San Jose in January alongside defenseman Jacob MacDonald for forward Matt Nieto and defenseman Ryan Merkley, played 19 games with the San Jose Barracuda this past season, scoring three goals and putting up 14 assists. Kaut additionally played nine games with the Sharks in the NHL.
“Nine games, five points. For the first time in my time in America, I felt like I have what it takes to make it in the NHL. I played with [Tomas Hertl], everything was great,” he said.
“Then, all of a sudden, they told me the others had to get a chance, and they sent me down. That pissed me off. In my place, there appeared players who were previously healthy scratches on the [Barracuda]. I didn’t understand it.”
Coaches forcing him to fight was just one reason why Kaut signed with HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga on July 7. “Plus, with the [Barracuda], it didn’t feel like we were a team. Each of the youngsters played for themselves,” Kaut said.
Veterans signing elsewhere
Kaut is one of several members of the San Jose Barracuda who left for another team following the 2022-2023 season.
Forward Andrew Agozzino was traded to Anaheim on June 27 in exchange for defenseman Andrej Sustr. “Andrew requested a trade after the season, citing personal reasons, and we wanted to facilitate his request,” said San Jose Barracuda General Manager Joe Will. The captain of the Barracuda, Agozzino, scored a franchise record of 26 goals alongside scoring 35 assists.
Forward C.J. Suess returned to the Manitoba Moose, signing forward him to a two-year contract through the 2024-25 season. Suess notched ten goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 46 games with the San Jose Barracuda during the 2022-23 season. He also suited up in one NHL game for the San Jose Sharks.
Defenseman Derrick Pouliot signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Dallas Stars organization on July 4. In 37 games for the Barracuda, he scored 25 points. He ranked second among Barracuda defensemen with four goals and 21 assists and led Barracuda defensemen in power-play goals with three goals.
Forward Kyle Criscuolo, who was acquired by San Jose in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings for Jasper Weatherby, signed with the New Jersey Devils a one-year two-way contract on July 1. The AHL veteran scored 12 goals and seven assists in 32 games with the Barracuda.
Defenseman Montana Onyebuchi signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes on July 11. Onyebuchi scored three goals and seven assists, along with 73 PIMs, in 35 games with the Barracuda.
