VIDEO: Maple Leafs' Phaneuf levels Sabres prospect Guhle with open-ice check

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf welcomed Buffalo Sabres prospect Brendan Guhle with a hard lesson at life in the NHL during Tuesday's preseason contest.

The veteran defenseman absolutely levelled the 18-year-old with a clean, open-ice hit that knocked the second-round pick out of the game.

"When he looked at the ice, he did not see the possibility of a hit and it came on him pretty quickly," Bylsma said after the game, according to Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News. "He didn't anticipate that it was a possibility. He took his hand off his stick, started to skate and before he knew it Phaneuf had moved quickly into a position to hit him. It definitely should be a learning experience."

Guhle impressed in training camp up to this point, and remains in the mix to make the opening night roster.