Hard-Hitting Ex-Leaf Lands Back On Waivers and May Now Be a Better Fit With a New Coach in Toronto

The Buffalo Sabres have officially placed forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel on waivers earlier today after a sub-par start to the 2024-25 season.

The former second round pick from the 2014 NHL Entry Draft has found it hard to stick with one team since his 7-year spell within the Philadelphia Flyers organization came to a close during the 2021-22 season.

Since then, he's spent time with Colorado, Toronto, Washington, and Buffalo, having been placed on waivers several teams. On the season, he has just 1 goal and 1 assist across 19 games to go along with a minus-4 rating, 17 PIMs, and 9:32 ATOI.

His tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs was short-lived as he saw just 6 games with the club after having signed a one-year deal during the summer of 2022. Aube-Kubel was placed on waivers in November of that season before being scooped up by Washington.

Aube-Kubel was signed to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million by Buffalo this past summer and while his offensive numbers have paled in comparison to his earlier seasons, he still provides a jolt of energy with his hits and forechecking.

He has 33 hits in just 19 games this season and delivered a career-high 159 checks and 26 blocked shots last year across 60 games with the Capitals.

An interesting proposition here might be to re-join the Maple Leafs. Normally, bringing back a piece who didn't fit would be an exercise in futility, but with Sheldon Keefe no longer in Toronto, perhaps Aube-Kubel, a former Stanley Cup champion, can find success under a new coaching staff that better values his intangibles.

Should any contenders be interested in his services, they have the next 24 hours to place a claim on the Alberta-native. Otherwise, he will more than likely be reassigned to the minors by the Sabres.