Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman John Klingberg was removed from Wednesday’s pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres as a precautionary measure after sustaining an unspecified injury.
Klingberg left during the first period of the Maple Leafs’ 5-2 victory in St. Thomas, Ont., and did not return to the bench.
“He just had something tighten up on him that is going to have to be evaluated before we know,” Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters after the game. “It was precautionary we took him out, but we won’t know the extent of it until we get it evaluated tomorrow.”
The 31-year-old from Gothenburg, Sweden, joined the Maple Leafs during free agency after signing a one-year, $4.15 million contract on July 1.
Klingberg recorded 33 points (10 goals and 23 assists) over 67 games last season split between the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild.
The Maple Leafs (1-1-1) resume their pre-season schedule with back-to-back road games against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday and Saturday.