Nicolas Aubé-Kubel Bio
Nicolas Aubé-Kubel is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who serves as a right winger. He currently plays for the Minnesota Wild organization in the National Hockey League (NHL), having signed with the team in July 2025. A native of Slave Lake, Alberta, who relocated to Sorel-Tracy, Quebec at age two, Aubé-Kubel has established himself as a physical forward with offensive capability across his professional career. The Philadelphia Flyers selected him in the second round, 48th overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. During his career, he has played for six NHL franchises, most notably winning the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Nicolas Aubé-Kubel was born on May 10, 1996, in Slave Lake, Alberta. When he was two years old, he moved with his mother Annie to Sorel-Tracy, Quebec. His sister Alex-Anne became a competitive figure skater, participating in national and international competitions, while Nicolas began playing minor ice hockey and speed skating with local teams in Quebec. Despite being cut from both his Pee-Wee and Midget minor ice hockey teams during his youth, Aubé-Kubel developed a strong offensive repertoire that would define his playing style.
Aubé-Kubel attended École secondaire Fernand-Lefebvre in Sorel-Tracy, which attempted to recruit him for their junior hockey program. Instead, he chose to play for the Collège Antoine-Girouard Gaulois in the Quebec AAA Midget Hockey League. During the 2011-12 season, the Gaulois posted the best record in the league, with Aubé-Kubel contributing 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 regular-season points, followed by seven goals and nine assists in 11 playoff games.
Path to Professional Hockey
The Val-d’Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) selected Aubé-Kubel in the first round, seventh overall, of their 2012 draft. As a 16-year-old rookie during the 2012-13 season, he scored 27 points in 64 games. His production nearly doubled the following season with 22 goals and 31 assists in 65 games, while he worked on improving his defensive play and physical strength. The Foreurs captured both the President’s Cup and QMJHL Championship that season, though they fell short of the Memorial Cup title.
Following his strong 2013-14 campaign, the Philadelphia Flyers chose Aubé-Kubel in the second round, 48th overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He signed his entry-level contract with the Flyers on October 2, 2014, after appearing in a preseason game. He returned to the Foreurs for the 2014-15 season, where he was asked to play on the top line following the departure of several top scorers. Despite a knee injury early in the season, he finished with 80 points (28 goals, 52 assists) and helped lead the team to the QMJHL playoffs.
The 2015-16 season marked Aubé-Kubel’s break-out year with the Foreurs. Serving as alternate captain for the second consecutive year, he posted a 15-game point streak between November and December. He finished the season with 38 goals and 46 assists for 84 points in 61 games. After his junior season concluded, he joined the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Philadelphia’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, for their final six games of the season.
Nicolas Aubé-Kubel Career
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Development (2016-2018)
The 2016-17 season marked Aubé-Kubel’s first full year of professional hockey with the Phantoms. His offensive output was more modest than his junior career, recording only nine goals and 18 points in 71 AHL games. Flyers general manager Ron Hextall explained that Aubé-Kubel was still learning the nuances of professional hockey, stating that “he didn’t understand the American League” and that it was “a much higher level than junior hockey.” Aubé-Kubel himself identified finding his role within the team structure as his primary focus.
The 2017-18 season brought considerable improvement, as Aubé-Kubel finished with the eighth-highest even-strength point totals in the AHL (43), with 36 of those being goals or primary assists. However, he struggled with the physical aspects of the game, receiving three AHL suspensions for illegal head checks and accumulating 86 penalty minutes, the highest of his career at that point. During the 2018 Calder Cup playoffs, he received an additional three-game suspension for an illegal hit during the division finals against the Charlotte Checkers.
Philadelphia Flyers (2018-2021)
Aubé-Kubel attended the Flyers’ training camp before the 2018-19 season but was initially assigned to the AHL. After scoring three goals and four assists in eight games with the Phantoms, he received his first NHL call-up on October 28, 2018. He made his NHL debut two days later against the Anaheim Ducks, skating on the fourth line. His initial NHL stint was limited to nine games, never logging more than eight minutes of ice time per game. He spent most of the season in the AHL, missing significant time with a knee injury and a concussion, finishing with 16 goals and 30 points in 54 AHL games.
After signing a one-year extension in July 2019, Aubé-Kubel began the 2019-20 season on waivers before being assigned to the Phantoms. He received another recall in December 2019 and scored his first NHL goal on December 23 in a 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers. He settled into a role on the fourth offensive line and played 36 games with the Flyers before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recording seven goals and eight assists. When the NHL resumed for the playoffs in Toronto, he scored two goals in a round-robin victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, helping the Flyers clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference. He appeared in 13 playoff games but missed three games with a bone bruise.
The 2020-21 season saw Aubé-Kubel sign a two-year, $2.15 million contract extension in September 2020. However, his performance regressed significantly. On January 19, 2021, he was fined the maximum allowable amount for a hit to the head of Buffalo Sabres player Rasmus Dahlin. By mid-April, he ranked eighth among all NHL skaters in penalty minutes while logging limited ice time. He finished the season with only three goals and 12 points in 50 games.
Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Championship (2021-2022)
After struggling through the first part of the 2021-22 season with the Flyers, recording just one assist in seven games, Aubé-Kubel was placed on waivers in November 2021 and was claimed by the Colorado Avalanche. He made his Avalanche debut on November 17, 2021, against the Vancouver Canucks, scoring his first goal with the team two days later in a victory over the Seattle Kraken. As the season progressed, the Avalanche received praise for their scoring depth, with Aubé-Kubel contributing to a fourth line that drew attention for its offensive production.
Aubé-Kubel finished the regular season with a career-high 11 goals and 23 points in 73 games. During the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, he recorded 19 hits in the first-round sweep of the Nashville Predators. Although his playing time decreased as the postseason progressed, he was part of the team that defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games to win the Stanley Cup, the Avalanche’s first championship since 2001. He appeared in 14 postseason games during the run to the championship.
Subsequent NHL Seasons (2022-2025)
In July 2022, Aubé-Kubel signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent on a one-year, $1 million contract. After going scoreless in six games, the Maple Leafs placed him on waivers, where he was claimed by the Washington Capitals in November 2022. He scored his first goal as a Capital in January 2023 and later signed a one-year extension worth $1.225 million. During the 2023-24 season, he appeared in 60 games with the Capitals, recording six goals and 16 points.
As a free agent in July 2024, Aubé-Kubel signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres for the 2024-25 season. In March 2025, the Sabres traded him to the New York Rangers in exchange for Erik Brännström. He was initially assigned to the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, before receiving a call-up to the NHL roster later that month.
Minnesota Wild (2025-Present)
On July 2, 2025, Aubé-Kubel signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild worth $775,000, beginning with the 2025-26 NHL season. The signing marked a new chapter in his professional career as he joined a franchise looking to strengthen its forward depth and physical presence.
Playing Style and Strengths
Aubé-Kubel has developed a reputation as a physical two-way forward capable of playing both special teams roles. His quick skating and strong eye-hand coordination allow him to contribute offensively despite typically being assigned to checking-line duties. He has demonstrated the ability to agitates opponents while maintaining responsible defensive play, making him a valuable asset for teams seeking depth players who can match up against top competition.
International Career
In 2013, Aubé-Kubel represented Canada Quebec at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He contributed four goals and eight total points in six tournament games, helping Quebec advance to the bronze medal match, where they fell to the United States. The tournament marked his only international competition at the amateur level.
Nicolas Aubé-Kubel Career Statistics
Throughout his professional career spanning multiple NHL and AHL organizations, Aubé-Kubel has accumulated experience at the highest level of professional hockey while developing into a reliable bottom-six forward. His career highlights include winning the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022 and achieving a career-high 11 goals during the 2021-22 regular season.
NHL Highlights
Aubé-Kubel’s NHL career includes appearances with six different franchises. His most successful season came with the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22, where he set career highs with 11 goals and 23 points while helping the team capture the Stanley Cup championship. He scored his first NHL goal in December 2019 with the Philadelphia Flyers and has contributed consistent physical play throughout his professional tenure. His career has been characterized by the ability to adapt to different team systems and contribute in various roles, from scoring lines to checking units.
AHL Development
Before establishing himself in the NHL, Aubé-Kubel spent considerable time developing in the American Hockey League with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. His AHL career showed steady improvement, with his most productive season coming in 2017-18 when he recorded the eighth-highest even-strength point totals in the league. The AHL experience proved essential in his transition from junior hockey to professional competition.
Nicolas Aubé-Kubel Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Nicolas Aubé-Kubel’s family has strong connections to professional hockey. His cousins, T.J. and Thomas Foster, both pursued careers in ice hockey. T.J. Foster most recently played for the Guildford Flames of the Elite Ice Hockey League, while Thomas Foster skated with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Ooks. This family tradition of hockey excellence has contributed to Aubé-Kubel’s development and passion for the sport from an early age.
Personal Life
Aubé-Kubel grew up in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, after moving from Alberta as a toddler. His sister Alex-Anne distinguished herself as a competitive figure skater, participating in national and international competitions. Throughout his hockey career, Aubé-Kubel has maintained connections to both his Alberta birthplace and his Quebec upbringing. He continues to pursue his professional hockey career while his family remains supportive of his athletic endeavors.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 NHL season saw Aubé-Kubel begin the year with the Buffalo Sabres after signing as a free agent in July 2024. He appeared in a limited number of games before the Sabres traded him to the New York Rangers in March 2025 in exchange for Erik Brännström. Following the trade, he was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, for the remainder of the season while adjusting to his new organization.
Aubé-Kubel received a call-up to the Rangers’ NHL roster later in March 2025, providing depth for a franchise with playoff aspirations. The opportunity to join a Original Six organization represented a chance to contribute to a team with strong historical pedigree. His ability to play both wings and contribute physically gave the Rangers flexibility in their forward rotations as they prepared for the stretch run of the regular season.
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season with the Minnesota Wild, Aubé-Kubel signed a one-year contract that provides an opportunity for a fresh start with a Western Conference franchise. The Wild have sought to add physical depth to their forward corps, and Aubé-Kubel’s track record of agitates play combined with his ability to chip in offensively aligns with their team identity. The upcoming season will mark his seventh full year in professional hockey, bringing accumulated experience from six different NHL organizations to his new team.