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."
