Playing career

Sauer was drafted 88th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. Sauer remained unsigned and continued to play for his junior team the Spokane Chiefs. Unable to agree to a contract with the Avalanche, in June 2002, Sauer was signed by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on the influence of new coach Mike Babcock, who coached Sauer at the Spokane Chiefs.

In Sauer's first professional season in 2002-03 he made the jump to the NHL with Anaheim and was amongst the league leaders for worst Plus/Minus. The following year on February 21, 2004, Sauer was traded to the team that drafted him, the Colorado Avalanche, for Martin Skoula. Sauer spent the next 4½ years with the Avalanche used as one of their primary shut down defenseman when not hampered by injury before leaving as a free agent.

On July 1, 2008, Sauer signed a four-year free agent deal with the Phoenix Coyotes worth an average of $1.75 million per year. In his first season with the Coyotes in 2008-09, Sauer played his most regular season games since his rookie year with 68 games for 7 points.

In preparation for the 2009-10 season, Sauer was initially injured in a September pre-season game against the Anaheim Ducks. In receiving an innocuous hit into the boards, Sauer's head whip-lashed and resulted in nerve damage through the neck and head which blurred his eyesight. Sauer continued to practice and played in the season opener against the Los Angeles Kings on October 2, 2009, but was still affected by his eyesight. Scratched for conditioning, Sauer suffered the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome. He continued to rehabilitate but by the All-Star break in February he was ruled out for the season after still suffering major symptoms and swelling.

Despite intensive therapy program's and numerous specialists visits, Sauer was unable to gain a clear diagnosis and remained sidelined with concussion symptoms for the remaining three-years of his contract with the Coyotes. Although unlikely to ever resume his professional career, he was still hopeful of a return, and has made slow progress through sensory rehabilitation to restore brain balance.

Personal life

Kurt and wife Carmen have 6 (2 adopted being african) children; son Kohl (born April 2003), Kasen, Kade and Kruz.

Sauer comes from a distinguished sports family. His father, Curt, played professional baseball in the Minnesota Twins system. He is the older brother of Michael Sauer, also a defenseman who plays for the New York Rangers whose career was also threatened by concussions. In addition to younger brother, Michael, an older brother, Kent, was a draftee of the Nashville Predators who was forced to retire due to knee problems. His oldest brother Craig played college football at the University of Minnesota and played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings until a foot injury forced him into retirement. He also has two sisters that played college basketball and soccer.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998-99	North Iowa Huskies	USHL		52	1	4	5	67		—	—	—	—	—
1999-00	Spokane Chiefs	WHL		71	3	12	15	48		15	2	1	3	8
2000-01	Spokane Chiefs	WHL		48	5	10	15	85		3	1	0	1	2
2001-02	Spokane Chiefs	WHL		61	4	19	23	73		11	0	3	3	12
2002-03	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	NHL		80	1	2	3	74		21	1	1	2	6
2003-04	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	NHL		55	1	4	5	32		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		14	0	1	1	19		3	0	0	0	0
2005-06	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		4	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		37	1	4	5	24		9	0	0	0	4
2006-07	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		48	0	6	6	24		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		54	1	5	6	41		10	1	0	1	8
2008-09	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		68	1	6	7	36		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				357	5	28	33	250		43	2	1	3	18

Awards and honors

Award	Year
WHL
West First All-Star Team	2002

[ Source: Wikipedia ]