Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) – When general manager Kevyn Adams went about trying to make the Buffalo Sabres harder to play against, he went after a couple of Washington Capitals. First he traded for Beck Malenstyn, and then signed Nicolas Aube-Kubel in free agency.
Both wingers will get in on the forecheck quickly, and cause havoc in front of the opposing net.
"I’ve started to enjoy that role," said Aube-Kubel during his introductory Zoom call with the media on Wednesday. "I thought Beck Malenstyn, [Nic] Dowd and I did a really good job neutralizing an offensive line from the other team and play more defensively. I’m pretty pumped to still have Beck by my side in Buffalo, and he’s also a good friend of mine. I’m pretty pumped to start new, but also to have a familiar face in Buffalo."
Aube-Kubel also thinks Malenstyn will definitely help this team going forward.
"It was a joy playing with him last year. He’s a really hard player to play against, and it’s just not how many shots he bocks. It's how many little details like he plays safe, he plays the right way and he’s a tool that you don’t think you need on the team, but it goes a long way," Aube-Kubel noted. "And he’s easy to play with, because you know how to read the play. So I’m pretty excited for him to take the next step in his career, and I’ll be by his side to help him. We’ll do some damage together."
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Aube-Kubel has played enough against the Sabres to know the kind of players that were missing from the team. He’s glad to step into that role.
"I just thought Buffalo was a good fit," Aube-Kubel said. "They were looking to get more physical and more depth, which is basically my role. So I thought Buffalo was a good fit, and I was happy to accept that offer."
Aube-Kubel has never scored more than 11 goals or 23 points in a season, which he did with the Colorado Avalanche the year they won the Stanley Cup in 2022.
Before being claimed off waivers by Colorado that season, he played seven games with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he was drafted in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft.
The 28-year-old feels there’s more to his game than just being physical.
"I still feel there’s an upside to my game," he said. "I can be put into different roles, but mainly I’m on that shutdown line, physical and bring that grit to the team."
One of the reasons Aube-Kubel believed Colorado was such a good team and won was their speed. He says the Sabres added all speed this offseason, which will make them better for it. Especially with his potential line with Malenstyn and fellow free agent addition Sam Lafferty.
Aube-Kubel likes what he sees in Lafferty, and sees some similarities in their games.
"I played in the minors against Lafferty, and I always thought he looked a bit like my style of play," Aube-Kubel noted. "He was a fast forward and good with the puck, so I’m pretty pumped to play with him. And the same with [Peyton] Krebs. I think he’s a really fast player, creative. I haven’t played much against him, but I’ve really liked his game."
Another player that was a former of teammate of Aube-Kubel’s in Colorado was defenseman Bo Byram. Byram told him while he only played 18 games with the Sabres, he loves the group here.
There’s a good chance Aube-Kubel will play on a line with Malenstyn and Lafferty. It’ll be interesting where head coach Lindy Ruff sees Krebs playing in this current group.
