TORONTO -- Veteran defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, traded from the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, took a big hit from New York Rangers rookie Matt Rempe late in the second period Saturday night, and didn't return to his first game this season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 29-year-old Russian, who was also with the club for 31 games and a playoff round in 2022, was run by Rempe into the side boards near Toronto goaltender Ilya Samsonov with 1:40 remaining in the second period of the Maple Leafs' 4-3 shootout victory.