Who is the NY Rangers' newest addition Nicolas Aube-Kubel?

New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced during the final hour of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline day that the team has acquired forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Erik Brannstrom.

As Blue Line Station previously reported, this is a minor league trade but more understandable in the sense that it will bolster the Hartford Wolf Pack roster in preparation for the the American Hockey League (AHL) playoffs in the coming months.

But, who is Nicolas Aube-Kubel?

Aube-Kubel already has experience in the league for a number of years; he was originally drafted by the Flyers in the second round, 48th overall, of the 2014 NHL Draft.

Aube-Kubel, at 28-years-old, has played in 19 games for the Sabres this season, registering two points (one goal and one assist). With the Rochester Americans of the AHL, he has posted four goals and four assists in 12 games for a plus-3 rating.

The Slave Lake, Alberta native has compiled 32 goals and 48 assists for 80 points in 301 career NHL games between Buffalo, Washington, Toronto, Colorado and Philadelphia. He has collected 115 or more hits in each of his last four full NHL seasons. In 2021-22, Aube-Kubel set career highs in goals (11), assists (12), points (23) and plus/minus (+11).

NHL fans most likely remember Aube-Kubel from when he won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022. He was the player who famously dented the cup while bringing it back to his teammates to celebrate with.

This was Drury's final move ahead of the trade deadline. The Rangers also acquired Carson Saucy from Vancouver after trading away defenseman Ryan Lindgren and traded Rielly Smith to the Golden Knights for Brendan Brisson.

Drury said he's done his part when it comes to making the trade moves and now needs his players to show how they translate on the ice.

"I wanted to make some changes these last few days, this last week, to show [our players] that they way they played, to me, is how you have to play, night in and night out. I do believe in the group, I think we have enough talent to push forward. I'm happy I was able to make some additions for them. But certainly they have to take the bull by the horns and win hockey games. As [Peter Laviolette] keeps saying, collect points along the way and we're going to do our best to try and get in."

Chris Drury on his trade transactions