Nicolas Aube-Kubel signs one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres announced Monday that they have signed Nicolas Aube-Kubel to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, officially ending the forward’s tenure in Washington.

In 60 games with the Capitals last season, Aube-Kubel recorded 16 points (6g, 10a).

We signed Nicolas Aube-Kubel to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million.

Welcome to Buffalo!

→ https://t.co/ERSMH1uF3U pic.twitter.com/nr7kwGRuxF

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 1, 2024

Aube-Kubel, 28, was one of two Capitals players set to become unrestricted free agents this summer (along with Max Pacioretty). General manager Brian MacLellan told reporters last week that it was “unlikely” that either player would return to Washington.

After being released by the Capitals during the preseason, Aube-Kubel spent the first month of the 2023-24 campaign with the Hershey Bears before joining the big club in November. He primarily worked on the Capitals’ fourth line, forming a solid defensive trio with Nic Dowd and Beck Malenstyn.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel, signed for 1x$1.5M by BUF, is a fast and physical fourth-line defensive end. #AllonsBuffalo pic.twitter.com/p8sJV8yHgM

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2024

With Malenstyn also joining Buffalo after the Capitals traded him in the draft, the Sabres now have two-thirds of Washington’s fourth-line from last year. The two have played 545:54 together at five-on-five, outscoring opponents 21-16 despite taking 91.1 percent of their defensive-zone faceoffs.

The Sabres will become Aube-Kubel’s fifth team in four years, following stints with the Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs and Capitals. Washington picked him up from Toronto ahead of the 2022-23 season before signing him to a one-year, $1.225 extension that spring.

Aube-Kubel won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022 and notably dented the trophy just minutes after presenting it to the team.