Erik Brannstrom with the Canucks, who he started this season with before being traded to the Rangers. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Sabres Acquire Brannstrom From Rangers for Aube-Kubel

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Declan Schroeder | Last updated Mar 7, 2025 4:22 PM ET

The Buffalo Sabres have acquired defenseman Erik Brannstrom from the New York Rangers for forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

Brannstrom Heads to 3rd Team of the Season

Hopefully Brannstrom didn’t get too comfortable with the Rangers’ organization, because he’ll be on the move again just a month after being traded there by the Vancouver Canucks as part of the J.T. Miller trade in late January. He never played a game for the Rangers as he was assigned to the American Hockey League’s Hartford Wolf Pack after the trade.

The 25-year-old blue liner, who was drafted in the first round (15th overall) by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, has not lived up to his high draft pedigree so far in his career. He had three goals and five assists for eight points in 28 games for the Canucks prior to the Miller trade and has 10 goals and 67 assists for 77 points in 294-career games over seven seasons. He spent the first six seasons of his career with the Ottawa Senators, but by the end of his tenure, was generally considered a draft bust by former general manager Pierre Dorion.

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams will hope a change of scenery will help Brannstrom live up to his potential as the puck-moving offensive defenseman he was touted to be upon being drafted. He is currently playing on a one-year deal worth $900,000 and will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

Depth Forward Aube-Kubel Off to Big Apple

The Rangers, who have disappointed overall this season but are hanging around in the Eastern Conference wild-card race with 67 points, have added a depth forward to replace — to some extent — Reilly Smith, who GM Chris Drury traded to the Golden Knights yesterday.

Aube-Kubel, 28, has one goal and one assist in 19 games this season, his first in Buffalo. In 301-career games between the Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Sabres, he has 32 goals and 48 assists for 80 points.

He was originally drafted in the second round (48th overall) by the Flyers in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.