The Sabres and Rangers have exchanged depth skaters with NHL experience. Defenseman Erik Brännström is headed to Buffalo, while winger Nicolas Aubé-Kubel goes to New York, per Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic.
Although it’s officially a swap of AHL talent, both players have considerable experience in the NHL. Neither player had a future with their respective clubs, and both teams needed depth at their respective positions.
Aubé-Kubel joins the sixth organization of his career after clearing waivers in late January. The bottom-six winger signed a one-year, $1.5MM contract in Buffalo last offseason– a deal that hasn’t worked out for either side. Aubé-Kubel will finish his Sabres’ tenure with one goal and one assist in 19 games, averaging 9:32 of ice time per game, the lowest of his career since the 2018-19 season.
Meanwhile, Brännström is moved for the third time this season. The former 15th overall pick of the 2017 NHL Draft and the headlining player for the Vegas Golden Knights’ acquisition of Mark Stone in 2019, signed a one-year, $900K contract with the Colorado Avalanche after being non-tendered by the Ottawa Senators.
Before ever suiting up with the Avalanche, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks shortly before the start of the 2024-25 campaign. He was utilized in a flex role between the NHL and AHL for the first half of the season scoring three goals and five assists in 28 games for the Canucks, and two goals and 12 points in eight games for their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks.
Brännström was then included in the trade that sent J.T. Miller back to the New York Rangers in January. Without having ever suited up for the Rangers, he’ll finish his stay in the organization with one goal and four points in six games for their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. Plenty of roster moves will happen over the next 24 hours, and these players could find themselves back in the NHL after it’s all said and done.
PHR’s Brennan McClain contributed to this article.
Adams should have included himself in this deal.
Oh please. Sabres will be surprising the league soon enough. Patience. Youngest team in hockey still.
Fair enough. I agree, they are set up very well for next year and beyond, one of the best, if not the best cap situations in the league, 4-6 high end prospects, strong up the middle for years with their Center depth, Top 10 D corp in the league if they can resign Byram and if can sign or trade for a tough-to-play-against big rightie like Connor Murphy while Komorov continues his growth with the Amerks, and potential top 3-4 pick in this year’s draft. Future is bright for sure.
Issue is the head space of their goaltenders! UPL is clearly having issues (not injury) and Levi cracks under the NHL pressure. It’s definitely a MUST the bring in better coaches than what they have now.
Would UPL and Levi be more effective if the Sabres had two more Right Handed D who were hard to play against? Softest D in the league right now. Take a flier on Gudbranson or Connor Murphy for next year til Komorov is ready.
Adams had to do another rebuild after his first year as GM. Cozens cratered. He swapped him out for Norris who has 133 hits and 20 goals compared to Cozens and his 11 goals.
They can resign both Byram and Peterka this off-season.
Many games UPL has had many fluke goals go in against him. Take last night. Even the Lightning goalie allowed 5. Levi is dominating in Rochelle this season.