The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Thursday that forward Auston Matthews underwent a surgical procedure to remove medical hardware from a previous surgery in 2014.

The team notes that the surgery will not disrupt the 21-year-old's on-ice program.

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports that screws inserted in Matthews' leg from a 2014 knee surgery were causing back pain, which prompted the decision to have the procedure.

The hope is that the back pain will now subside.

Matthews appeared in 68 contests for the Leafs this season, scoring 37 goals and a career-high 73 points. He scored five goals and added an assist in the team's seven-game series loss to the Boston Bruins in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Matthews announced earlier this week that he would not be a part of the United States' IIHF World Championships entry in Slovakia later this month.