The New York Islanders placed defenseman Johnny Boychuk on their injured reserve list Friday with an upper-body injury.
The team said a time frame for Boychuk's return would be determined when he meets with the team's doctors next week.
The Islanders recalled defenseman Adam Pelech from their AHL affiliate in Connecticut, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, in a corresponding move.
Boychuk was forced from the Islanders' 2-1 victory over the Sabres on Thursday when Buffalo's Jack Eichel dodged his late hit, sending him to the boards. He skated off favoring his left arm.
"It looked like he just caught an edge-type thing and went in hard and he's a big guy,'' Islanders coach Jack Capuano said after the game. "Fortunate that it wasn't his head or his neck and that's the most important thing.''
The 31-year-old Boychuk has three goals and 11 assists this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.