BREAKING: Capitals Claim Aube-Kubel To Help Address Injuries

ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals are turning to the waiver wire to solve their injury woes, and will take a chance on Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

The Capitals have claimed the forward off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs. To make space for him, as they were at the 23-skater limit, they assigned Garrett Pilon back to the AHL’s Hershey Bears.

Aube-Kubel inked a one-year, $1 million contract with the Maple Leafs back in July. However, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan, as he played in just six games and went without a point. However, he did have a whopping 21 hits over that span. Toronto recognized the fact that he had a shorter offseason following his Stanley Cup win with the Colorado Avalanche. Ultimately, though, the Leafs placed him on waivers.

The 26-year-old winger started last year with the Philadelphia Flyers and had one assist in seven games before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche. With Colorado, Aube-Kubel posted 11 goals and 11 assists in 67 games and also appeared in 14 playoff games en route to the Stanley Cup (yes, he is the one who accidentally dropped and dented the trophy when he slipped coming into the group photo).

Yes, Aube-Kubel dropped and dented the Stanley Cup, and right in front of him with a priceless reaction: Darcy Kuemper.

The two are teammates once again as NAK joins the #ALLCAPS.

(Photo: NHL) pic.twitter.com/HZAhOxNELt

— Sammi Silber (@sammisilber) November 5, 2022

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Aube-Kubel is a gritty fourth-line role player who can play with grit and help generate pressure on the forecheck while playing well in his own end. He would fit in well on the fourth line with Nic Dowd and Garnet Hathaway, and would be a great fill-in with Beck Malenstyn on the shelf.

Malenstyn is just one of several injured Capitals. Washington is also without Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson, T.J. Oshie, Connor Brown, Carl Hagelin and John Carlson — though Carlson was back skating and is on the right track.

The Capitals play on Saturday against the Arizona Coyotes. Sonny Milano, another fill-in option amid injuries piling up, is making his Washington debut.

Aube-Kubel will reunite with former teammate Darcy Kuemper months after both hoisted the Cup with the Avalanche.