Colorado claims winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel off waivers

The Avalanche have added some forward depth as Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports that they’ve claimed winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel off waivers from Philadelphia.

The 25-year-old has had a limited role for the Flyers this season, suiting up in seven games and logging just under 10 minutes per contest. He has just a single assist to show for it although he has chipped in with his physicality, recording 17 hits. Aube-Kubel has shown some upside in the past, recording 15 points in 36 games during the 2019-20 season. Colorado is clearly hoping that they can help him rediscover that offensive touch.

Interestingly enough, Aube-Kubel was on Philadelphia’s protected list for Seattle’s expansion draft so his stock inside the organization has certainly dipped in recent months. He’s in the second and final season of a contract that carries a $1.075M AAV and Colorado can retain him as a restricted free agent this summer if they tender him a $1.225M qualifying offer.

Seravalli adds that a handful of teams were poking around on Aube-Kubel since he was put on waivers so it’s quite possible that the Avs weren’t the only team to place a claim on him. In that sense, it’s a bit surprising that Philadelphia wasn’t able to find a taker in a trade, although the cap space freed up by the move may have been preferable to whatever marginal return such a move might have yielded.