Nicolas Aube-Kubel Receiving Overseas Interest

Veteran winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel spent the bulk of last season in the minors and has yet to secure a contract more than a month into free agency.  However, while North American opportunities aren’t materializing, it appears he has interest elsewhere.  Sport-Express’ Artur Khairullin reports that Barys Astana of the KHL is interested in signing the veteran while there are teams in other European leagues hoping to land him as well.

The 30-year-old spent last season with Minnesota, playing on a two-way contract signed on the second day of free agency, though it carried a high $550K guaranteed payout.  Aube-Kubel was recalled four times during the course of the season but it didn’t result in much playing time as he got into just six games, where he notched a pair of assists.  He spent the rest of the campaign with AHL Iowa, collecting 15 goals and 22 assists in 62 appearances.

For his career, Aube-Kubel has seen action in eight straight NHL seasons, spanning 310 games across seven different organizations.  Offensive production has been difficult to come by as he has just 32 goals and 50 assists in those outings.  However, he’s averaging more than two hits per game over his career and can play on the penalty kill, making him a serviceable plug-and-play fourth liner when injuries arise.  Meanwhile, his experience means that he counts as a veteran player in the AHL; teams are only allowed to ice six veteran skaters per game.

If Aube-Kubel wants to stay in North America, he has a good chance of receiving a PTO over the next month, giving him a shot to go into training camp with the hope of landing a two-way contract.  However, he’d also run the risk of going into the season unsigned if the tryout didn’t go as planned.  That could make the international options a little more appealing; while they’d rule out an opportunity for more NHL action, they’d at least guarantee him a spot to play for the upcoming season.  He has a little while longer to decide which course of action he wants to take.