The highly anticipated blockbuster trade between the Rangers and Sabres has finally happened…
This deal feels underwhelming, especially given the speculation surrounding the Rangers potentially targeting J.J. Peterka. Perhaps a trade of that magnitude is more likely in the offseason, but for now, let’s break down what this minor move means for New York.
The Rangers originally acquired Brannstrom in the J.T. Miller trade, which made a lot of sense at the time. It came shortly after they landed Urho Vaakanainen in the Jacob Trouba trade, leaving some uncertainty about how GM Chris Drury planned to reshape the team’s defensive core. Since then, the Rangers have added Calvin de Haan and Carson Soucy while still holding onto Zac Jones and Chad Ruhwedel.
If it wasn’t already evident that the Rangers had a surplus of defensemen, today’s extension for Urho Vaakanainen confirmed it, making Brannstrom expendable. That brings us to Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
Or rather—Stanley Cup Champion Nicolas Aube-Kubel. Originally a second-round pick, Aube-Kubel played a key depth role for the Colorado Avalanche in their 2022 Stanley Cup run before bouncing around multiple teams. After spending two seasons with the Washington Capitals, he signed a one-year deal with Buffalo last summer. This season, he recorded a goal and an assist in 19 games with the Sabres and added four goals and four assists in 12 AHL games with the Rochester Americans.
So, what does Aube-Kubel bring to the Rangers? He’s a high-energy player who gives maximum effort every shift. While he won’t put up big numbers, he’s a reliable bottom-six forward, primarily playing right wing but capable of moving around when needed. He’s strong defensively, contributes on the penalty kill, and provides valuable depth for a potential playoff push.
While it would have been interesting to see what Brannstrom could have developed into with the Rangers, the team’s blue line depth made this trade logical. Now, it appears New York is done making moves ahead of this year’s trade deadline.
