Joffrey Lupul starts pre-season on Maple Leafs’ injured reserve list

TORONTO — Joffrey Lupul has suffered another injury setback.

The veteran Maple Leafs winger, who missed the last 31 games of last season after undergoing surgery sports hernia surgery in February, remains sidelined on the eve of training camp.

“He got on the ice and he had the same discomfort,” GM Lou Lamoriello told reporters Thursday. “So we brought him back and he saw our doctors (last week). When he went through the physical they both felt that he wouldn’t be able to play.

“He’s very disappointed. He worked very hard at it this summer … He’s going to continue to work at it, wants to play. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Lupul, who is slated to make US$5.25 million this season, is on the team’s injured reserve list.

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“It is with deep regret that I will be unable to attend training camp and start the season with the Leafs due to injury,” he said in a statement. “I pledge to work hard with a view to return to playing this season.

“Hockey is the only life I have known. This is an extremely emotional time for me. Accordingly, I will not be making any further comment at this time.”

Lupul, a 12-year NHL veteran who turns 33 Friday, has 205 goals and 215 assists in 701 regular-seasons games with Anaheim, Edmonton, Philadelphia and Toronto. He joined the Leafs midway through the 2010-11 season.

Injuries have frustrated him in recent seasons.

The Leafs, minus their World Cup participants, hit the ice Friday in Bedford, N.S.

Stephane Robidas (knee) and Nathan Horton (back), neither of whom figure in the team’s on-ice plans, are also on injured reserve.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press