Veteran Winger Drawing Interest From The KHL, Not The NHL
Per Sport-Express's Artur Khairullin, Barys Astana of the KHL is interested in signing the veteran winger, with teams in other European leagues also hoping to land him.
A Rough Follow-Up To A Career Season
The 30-year-old's stock has fallen sharply since a strong 2023-24 campaign in which he set career highs with 16 goals and 33 points for the Washington Capitals. Last season with the Minnesota Wild told a very different story.
Nicolas Aubé-Kubel has joined Winners Hockey Agency.
— Jeremy Garrett HNH (@HockeyNewsHub) July 30, 2026
Winners represent players who may want to continue their careers in the KHL.
Aube-Kubel signed a two-way deal on the second day of free agency last summer, one that still carried a guaranteed payout of $550,000 despite the two-way structure. It didn't translate into NHL playing time. He was recalled four separate times but appeared in just six games, picking up two assists, while spending the bulk of the season in the minors with AHL Iowa, where he posted 15 goals and 22 assists across 62 games.
That gap between his AHL production and his NHL opportunity appears to be exactly why the offers drying up in North America and picking up overseas.
A Decision With A Deadline Attached
Aube-Kubel still has a path back to an NHL training camp if he wants it. Per Pro Hockey Rumors, he has a good chance of landing a professional tryout over the next month, which would give him a shot to compete for a two-way contract.
The risk is real, though. A PTO carries no guarantee, and if it doesn't lead to a deal, he could end up heading into the season without a contract anywhere.
Sport-Express’ Artur Khairullin reports that Barys Astana of the KHL is interested in signing Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
— The Mug NHL (@TheMugNHL) August 8, 2026
That's exactly what makes the KHL and other European options increasingly appealing. They would close the door on further NHL games, but they'd lock in a roster spot and a paycheck for the season rather than leaving him to gamble on an unpaid tryout.
A 2014 second-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, Aube-Kubel has played parts of nine NHL seasons with six teams.
