Nicolas Aube-Kubel spent two seasons in Washington. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu

Nomadic Nicolas Aube-Kubel excited to give Sabres’ fourth line grit, speed

As free agency approached and winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel began looking for his fifth NHL team in the last three and a half years, he told his agent he wanted to join a younger group.

Having started last season in the AHL – he played 11 games for the Hershey Bears before earning regular duty with the Washington Capitals – Aube-Kubel knew he likely wouldn’t receive a multi-year deal.

But the idea of growing with a budding team and proving himself intrigued Aube-Kubel, who signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres on July 1.

“Those teams have more room for the future, and once you play well … they look for more longer term,” he said on a Zoom call Wednesday.

The Sabres, of course, had plenty of room for players like the 6-foot, 207-pound Aube-Kubel, a mix of speed and physicality who will likely skate on their fourth line.

At 28, he’s Buffalo’s third-oldest forward (he was born on the same day as Alex Tuch). Only Sam Lafferty and Jason Zucker, two other newcomers, are older.

The Sabres recently overhauled their group of bottom-six forwards, trading for Beck Malenstyn and Ryan McLeod and also signing Lafferty.

Their third and fourth lines are expected to play faster and grittier in the upcoming season under new coach Lindy Ruff.

“Speed was always my main strength,” Aube-Kubel said. “Yeah, it’s just way easier on the forecheck. I bet some D-men will say I’m hard to play against once I’m forechecking.”

Aube-Kubel has grown into that checking role, evolving from a high-scoring junior star into a more rugged presence often tasked with shadowing the opponent’s top talent.

“In junior, I was able to create offense and be a top-tier offensive player,” said Aube-Kubel, who registered 159 hits last season, 18 more than any Buffalo forward. “I always counted on those skills and were always part of me. But I feel like once I turned pro in the American League, I’ve been put more (in) a more physical role.

“With my speed and with my frame, I think it just goes hand in hand with the physical asset. Yeah, (I) always like to play rougher, I guess, and … by doing that it kind of solidified the role I had on the fourth line.”

He spent last season in Washington skating alongside Malenstyn, who was acquired June 29, and Nic Dowd.

“I’m starting to enjoy that role,” Aube-Kubel said. “This year was really good. I thought Beck Malenstyn, Dowd and I did a really good job on the fourth line and killing, neutralizing the offensive line for the other team, and being more defensive. So I’m pretty pumped to have Beck still by my side in Buffalo.”

Some familiarity should help Aube-Kubel, who also knows Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram, his teammate with the Colorado Avalanche.

Aube-Kubel has been a hockey nomad since early in 2021-22, when Colorado claimed him on waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers.

He enjoyed a career year as the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup, scoring 11 goals and 22 points in 67 games. During the Avalanche’s on-ice celebration – he played 14 postseason contests – he dropped the Cup and dented it.

He said the Sabres’ fast transition style from their defense “kind of mimics a bit” the way Colorado plays.

Aube-Kubel signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs following that season but lasted just six games before Washington grabbed him on waivers.

Last season, other forwards had stronger training camps, so he became expendable. He cleared waivers in October and played in the AHL for the first time since 2019-20. The Capitals recalled him in early November, and he played 60 games.

Returning to the minors taught him some valuable lessons.

“It’s notice the adversity and play better, play your role and bring something that someone else can’t bring, solidify your role even when it’s early in the season,” Aube Kubel said.

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