When speaking to the media on Tuesday, Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said that forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel is expected to be out of the lineup for the next 3-6 weeks with a lower-body injury.
Ruff also told the media that the team is hopeful that JJ Peterka and Zach Benson will be available for the Sabres’ home opener on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings. However, Ruff mentioned that the team is prepping its power play units in case one or both players are unavailable.
Aube-Kubel was placed on injured reserve on Monday after suffering an injury in the Sabres’ opener this past Friday at the NHL Global Series in Prague, Czechia. The 28-year-old played 5:45 before exiting the game in which Buffalo lost to the New Jersey Devils, 4-1.
Peterka and Benson also fell to ailments while in Czechia. Peterka suffered a concussion early in the first period of the first game when he received a hit from Devils defenseman Brendan Dillon and didn’t return. Peterka had just 1:39 of ice time before leaving the game.
Ruff told the media that Peterka did skate on Tuesday but not with the team.
Benson played the full game on Friday, skating for 17:23 of ice time. However, the 19-year-old didn’t play on Saturday due to a lower-body injury.
After spending two seasons with the Washington Capitals, Aube-Kubel signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with Buffalo. Last season, he scored six goals and 16 points in 60 games, the highest point total in a single NHL season for Aube-Kubel since he posted 22 points with the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22, the year the team won the Stanley Cup.
Peterka entered the 2024-25 campaign looking to build off an impressive sophomore season with the Sabres. The German forward scored 28 goals and 22 assists in 2023-24, finishing fourth on the team in scoring.
Benson really impressed many with his performance during his rookie season last year. After making the team out of camp as an 18-year-old, he went on to score 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points in 71 games.