ROCHESTER – For three months, winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel moved in and out of the lineup, never finding a groove while often skating short minutes for the Buffalo Sabres.
In his first days with the Sabres, Aube-Kubel, 28, looked like he would fit nicely on their revamped fourth line, offering them some much-needed grit and speed.
The newcomer enjoyed a strong training camp and stood out early in Buffalo’s season-opening loss Oct. 4 before injuring his knee later in his debut.
When he returned sporting a brace following an eight-game absence, he struggled and morphed into a spare part.
“I was really positive about the season, felt really good during the offseason,” Aube-Kubel said Wednesday in Blue Cross Arena following his 10th outing with the Americans, Buffalo’s AHL affiliate. “And, yeah, sometimes you can’t find a rhythm. I’ve missed some chances when I’m in the lineup, I guess, and that’s when you get out of the lineup, you try to do more, try to change your game a little bit to stay.”
He stayed until the Sabres waived him Jan. 28. After clearing, he began his first stint in the minors since early in 2023-24.
That’s when Aube-Kubel’s season began to take off. Returning to the AHL has given him more ice-time and a confidence boost.
Meanwhile, the Amerks, who have an AHL-best 74 points, have kept winning.
“It’s really fun, having a blast,” Aube-Kubel said of the group he has joined.
In Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he scored his fourth goal and added an assist while skating at right wing alongside center Konsta Helenius, the 14th overall pick last year.
“I feel like I’ve found my game a little bit more,” Aube-Kubel said. “Still some improvement, but, yeah, it feels good to play more minutes and start skating and hitting.”
Perhaps an NHL team looking to add depth up front could be interested in acquiring him before Friday’s trade deadline.
Amerks coach Mike Leone said having played 301 NHL games, Aube-Kubel could’ve easily pouted about his demotion.
“He’s had a great attitude,” he said. “I think he loves being here. He’s been great.”
Aube-Kubel, who signed a one-year, one-way contract worth $1.5 million July 1, understands why he lost his spot with the Sabres.
Yes, he averaged just 9 minutes, 32 seconds of ice time over 19 games with the Sabres, registering one goal and two points. Still, he never made the most of his limited opportunities.
“I didn’t handle it that well being in and out,” he said. “I needed to make more of an impact when I was there. But it’s all a part of it, and I’m pretty happy to be playing more, yeah, that’s for sure.”
Aube-Kubel, who won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, fits in nicely with the Amerks’ fast-paced attack. When he began his pro career in the AHL nine years ago, he played a much different style.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “My other experience in the American League a while back (with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms) was totally different. I feel like (we played) not much offense and more chipping pucks and grinding.
“It’s still part of the game, but I feel like we work so good and so fast, it reminds me a little bit of Colorado, like their transition and our D are so talented. It’s really fun to experience that.”
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Devon Levi has been named the AHL Goaltender of the Month for February after compiling a 5-2-0 record with a 1.66 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage in seven games for the Amerks.