The Maple Leafs signed Nicolas Aube-Kubel to a one-year $1 million contract on the first day of free agency. Given the team’s propensity of signing bottom-six players for inexpensive contracts, there must have been something about Aube-Kubel that attracted the attention of the organization because they paid more than the NHL’s league minimum. At the same time, the fact that it was a one-year contract makes it a bit of a “show-us” deal.
What’s Aube-Kubel’s Background?
The Philadelphia Flyers drafted Aube-Kubel at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft (48th overall). Aube-Kubel is now 26 years old. With the Flyers, he played 102 regular season games and 13 playoff games over four seasons. When the Flyers placed him on waivers last season, Aube-Kubel was fortunately claimed by the Colorado Avalanche.
With Colorado, he then played 67 regular-season games and 14 playoff games. The result of those games was a Stanley Cup victory.
What Should Maple Leafs Fans Expect from Aube-Kubel?
Number One: Fans Should Not Expect Lots of Scoring
Aube-Kubel does not score tons. In the 169 regular-season games played in the NHL, he’s scored 50 points (21 goals and 29 assists). He’s also scored two more goals and added an assist (for three points) in the postseason.
Number Two: Fans Should Expect Lots of Tenacity
For as tenacious Aube-Kubel is, it’s a surprise that he’s not that big. He stands at 5-foot-11 and weighs 187 pounds. Fans should expect – and, in fact, Aube-Kubel promised it – that he’d be tenacious. He’s tough, physical, and not afraid to hit. Over his last three seasons, he’s averaged 166 hits per 82 games played.
Aube-Kubel has also been known to have a fight or two along the way. In fact, he’s registered ten fights during his career in both the AHL and NHL (according to Hockeyfights.com).
Number Three: Fans Should Expect Lots of Time in the Sin Bin
Going along with Aube-Kubel’s physical game comes more than a few penalties and even a few AHL suspensions (but none since he arrived in the NHL). However, Aube-Kubel has been fined two times.
In fact, Aube-Kubel should have a solid new friend in new teammate Auston Matthews because both have suffered the consequences of getting physical with Buffalo Sabres’ defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. However, Matthews was suspended but Aube-Kubel was only fined. [Who wins that one?]
Number Four: Fans Should Expect a Solid Bottom-Six Player
Fans should expect Aube-Kubel to be a solid bottom-six player. He’s never really played higher than the fourth line; and, that’s likely where he’ll land with the Maple Leafs.
Might he be a possibility for the left-wing spot on the Maple Leafs’ second line? Likely not, even though in my mind that line could use some tenacity that included digging the puck out of crowds and getting it to either John Tavares or William Nylander.
The Bottom Line with Aube-Kubel?
The bottom line for Aube-Kubel is that he’ll probably be well-liked by Maple Leafs’ fans because of his tough play. He’ll likely turn the fourth line into a rock-em-sock-em unit.
That would be the best fit for Aube-Kubel.
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