The Buffalo Sabres returned home after going 1-3-0 on their four-game Western road swing and went through an energetic practice at LECOM Harborcenter on Monday, in preparation for Tuesday night’s match against the Atlantic Division rival Boston Bruins. Afterward, the club made a roster move, placing winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel on waivers.
The 28-year-old won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022 and was signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal by the Sabres last July after splitting time between AHL Hershey and the NHL Washington Capitals. Aube-Kubel has seen primarily on the fourth line in 19 of Buffalo’s 49 games and has two points (1 goal, 1 assist). If the veteran clears waivers on Tuesday, he could be demoted to AHL Rochester, leaving the Sabres with 12 forwards.
The club has promoted and demoted youngster Tyson Kozak multiple times this month, which could mean that if Aube-Kubel clears and is sent down, Kozak will get a longer look at the NHL level.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff updated the status of Jordan Greenway. The big winger was placed on injured reserve just before Christmas due to a middle-body injury that required surgery, but Ruff indicated that he is making progress in his recovery.
"He's been skating again, he skated this morning,” Ruff said. “With the reports I'm getting, I anticipate Greener getting back into practice in the near future for us and that would be the first step of getting close to (returning to) the lineup."
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