Sabres place F Nicolas Aube-Kubel on IR, lose G James Reimer on waivers

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Sabres placed veteran forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel on injured reserve Monday, and goaltender James Reimer was claimed off waivers by the Anaheim Ducks.

Along with sending forward Lukas Rousek and defenseman Kale Clague to the minors, the moves reduce Buffalo’s roster to 23 players before Thursday’s home opener. The Sabres were allowed to roster 27 players for season-opening games in Prague, Czechia.

Aube-Kubel’s lower-body injury makes room for 20-year-old prospect Juri Kulich to remain on the Sabres roster. The leading goal scorer for the Rochester Americans last season, Kulich followed up a standout performance in Buffalo’s prospect camp with a solid preseason, and he skated 14 minutes in the second of two games the Sabres played in his home country.

The 35-year-old Reimer signed a one-year NHL contract with Buffalo in free agency. The third goalie became expendable as 22-year-old Devon Levi performed well in preseason and made 34 saves in losing his first start of the regular season. The Sabres also have Felix Sandstrom on a two-way contract in Rochester for depth.

The Sabres are 0-2-0 under returning coach Lindy Ruff, losing 4-1 and 3-1 against Ruff’s former team the New Jersey Devils. The visiting Los Angeles Kings will play their opening game Thursday at KeyBank Center.

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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here .

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