Ilya Lyubushkin leaves game in first night back with Maple Leafs after hit from Matt Rempe

That didn’t take long.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin left Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers in the second period after taking a big hit from forward Matt Rempe.

Lyubushkin was hit hard into the boards by the 6-foot-8 winger, with Lyubushkin’s head hitting the boards. He stayed on the bench to finish the period but didn’t return for the third.

The game was 2-2 at the time of the hit.

Rempe catches Lyubushkin with a big hit. 😳 pic.twitter.com/zlAnvaJ5wL

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 3, 2024

Lyubushkin was acquired less than an hour after Toronto’s most recent game against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. The move came after Mark Giordano left the game with a suspected head injury, although the deal was in the works prior to the injury.

The Leafs were forced to play with five defenders for the rest of the night, just as they did on Saturday.

Lyubushkin has four assists in 56 games this year, all coming with the Anaheim Ducks prior to the deal. This is Lyubushkin’s second tour of duty in Toronto, having registered six points in 31 games to close out the 2021-22 regular season. The 6-foot-2 Russian defender left via free agency in 2022 and joined the Buffalo Sabres, where he went on to have his best statistical season.

Lyubushkin is in the final year of a two-year deal that pays him $2.75 million, with only $687,500 counting towards Toronto’s cap after salary retention from both Anaheim and Carolina.

Toronto got some relief after Timothy Liljegren returned from injury. But with Mark Giordano and Conor Timmins both on IR, the team is still struggling to keep a healthy blueline on a consistent basis. The team is believed to still be in the market for another blueliner before next week’s NHL Trade Deadline on March 8.

The Maple Leafs will welcome the Boston Bruins to town on Monday evening at 7:00 PM ET, with or without Lyubushkin in the lineup.