The Sabres have added to their flurry of depth signings today, confirming deals for UFA winger Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (one year, $1.5MM), defenseman Jacob Bryson (one year, $900K) and defenseman Dennis Gilbert (one year, $825K). The team also confirmed the previously reported signings of Jason Zucker and Sam Lafferty.
PuckPedia later reported that the Sabres also inked depth defenseman Jack Rathbone to a one-year, two-way deal worth $775K NHL/$500K AHL.
Aubé-Kubel’s stock has improved after being an early-season waiver claim two years ago. Since then, he became a regular role player for the Capitals. Last season, the 28-year-old played in 60 games for Washington, recording six goals and ten assists along with a career-high 159 hits while logging a little over 12 minutes a night. With the Sabres looking to add some grit to their bottom six group, they’ve elected to reunite Aubé-Kubel with Beck Malenstyn, who was acquired back at the draft.
As for Bryson, his stint in unrestricted free agent was short-lived after being non-tendered by the team yesterday. The 26-year-old had a limited role with Buffalo last season, getting into just 36 games where he had eight points while averaging a little under 15 minutes a night. His $1.85MM contract helped get him through waivers unclaimed, resulting in him seeing action in ten games with AHL Rochester as well. Bryson is likely to still have a depth role with the Sabres next season but it will be at a much more manageable price point this time around.
Gilbert, meanwhile, spent all of last season at the NHL level with the Flames but playing time was hard to come by. While he missed a handful of games with a concussion, he was also a frequent healthy scratch. In the end, the 27-year-old played in 34 games, picking up a goal and six assists along with 49 blocks and 59 hits while logging a little more than 12 minutes a night. He could battle for an end-of-roster spot with Buffalo in training camp but could also be earmarked for a key role with AHL Rochester.
In 2021-22, Rathbone picked up 40 points in 39 games with AHL Abbotsford and it looked like a full-time promotion to the NHL could soon be forthcoming. However, that didn’t come to fruition. The 25-year-old was moved to Pittsburgh last year in an early-season trade but played exclusively with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording 24 points in 67 games. He’ll be ticketed for a regular role with the Americans where he’ll hope to play his way into his first NHL action since 2021-22.
Multiple cups incoming. Big moves!
Down the road with cups sure. Young core nowhere near their peak.
I was kidding, my Sabres are a running joke
I’m wasn’t. The Sabres are not a running joke.
This is an absolute travesty what Kevyn Adams is doing to the Sabres! They talk as well as politicians! Everything out of their mouth is just hot air!
So what’s your plan, Larry? Nobody of note wants to come here!
I’m not sure you could reasonably argue Buffalo is better for all this. Different, I guess. But this feels like the definition of moving chairs around on the Titanic
Their practices might be more competitive with the new depth at least
?????
They finished above .500 2 seasons in a row. Youngest team in hockey. Ruff is going to have the Sabres play a much better team system. They will also have structure & accountability. Over half of these 33+ year olds signing big money deals for 4 to 6 years long will be bought out or traded within a few years anyways.
NAK and Malenstyn were great shutdown D line for Caps. Pick up Dowd and you can recreate the entire Caps 4th line and their primary PK. Some crazy stats like 80% of their faceoffs were D zone. Never get much chance to do anything on O
After the season KA talked about making the Sabres tougher to play against and I think he has done that, especially up front. Of course he also said he was going to improve the teams scoring through either free agency or trades and now he’s saying the same thing we always hear. Paraphrasing: We really like our group especially with our new additions. Then of course he says he would consider adding a top six forward if possible. In other words we are going to be hoping are young players step up more and those who had a down year improve. Why not just say we are moving forward with our young players and third or fourth line additions and hope we make the playoffs? We have the longest playoff drought in the NHL and while I like KA Sabres fans are sick of waiting for a new plan to hopefully work.
Yup.The forward from Washington & Lafferty the Sabres added about 400 hits to the roster. Trades also happen through August. Ruff will be implementing a much better team system, more structure & accountability. I see positive things this upcoming season. Plus the Sabres have Kulich, Rosen or Savoie to take advantage of a NHL opportunity.
Did some looking at Skinner’s stats from February till the end of last season-
February- 2G 1A
March 5G (+ some assits) with 3 goals coming on 3/18 vs Seattle.
0 goals from March 19th till the end of the season.