Ahead of their matchup with the Sabres tonight, the Maple Leafs made a roster move that’s more about logistics than performance, placing defenseman Dakota Mermis on waivers. This comes on the heels of his conditioning loan wrapping up, which had been extended multiple times while he worked his way back from a lower-body injury that landed him on long-term injured reserve. With the loan now expired, the Leafs had a decision to make - and waivers became the path forward.
Mermis, who joined Toronto as a free agent in 2024, re-upped with the organization on a two-year deal last summer. But his tenure has been anything but stable.
This marks the third time he’s hit the waiver wire since arriving. The Leafs lost him to Utah the first time around in December 2024, only to reclaim him weeks later when he was waived again.
Since then, they’ve managed to keep him in the fold.
To start this season, Mermis cleared waivers and bounced between the AHL and NHL - a common fate for depth defensemen trying to carve out a role. But come November, injuries on Toronto’s blue line gave him a more permanent spot on the NHL roster. Ironically, that same injury bug caught up to him in December, sidelining him for over a month.
He finally returned to game action last Sunday in the AHL, logging his first minutes since the injury. It wasn’t a headline performance - a -1 rating and two shots in an overtime loss to Providence - but it marked just his third AHL appearance of the year. For most of the season, he’s been either skating with the Leafs or rehabbing.
Now, with the Leafs’ defensive corps getting healthier - and with Troy Stecher in the mix alongside Henry Thrun and Philippe Myers as depth options - Mermis finds himself the odd man out. At 32 years old, he’s no stranger to the AHL grind. With 466 games played across a decade in the minors, he’s a seasoned pro who knows how to stay ready.
In his 11 NHL games this season, Mermis averaged just over 13 minutes a night. He chipped in one goal, posted a -3 rating, and held a 46.9% Corsi For at even strength - numbers that paint the picture of a serviceable depth piece, but not someone currently in the Leafs’ top-six plans.
Assuming he clears waivers again, Mermis will return to the AHL, where he’ll likely get steady minutes and stay sharp in case the Leafs need him down the stretch. It’s a familiar role for him - and one he’s proven capable of handling.