Leafs Defenceman to Miss Several Weeks After Undergoing Surgery

The Maple Leafs signed 30-year-old Dakota Mermis to a one-year contract in early July.

Signed to add to the depth of the Maple Leafs' blueline, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Jani Hakanpaa at the time, Mermis' deal is worth $775K. The 6'0, 195-pound blueliner had been skating in Group B at Leafs training camp, but appears to be out for at least the remainder of training camp as he underwent surgery on his jaw this week.

Mermis is expecged to begin the season with the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League, if he isn't claimed on waivers by another team. He could be one of the first to be called up due to his NHL experience should the injury bug bite the Leafs' blueline.

An undrafted free agent who jumped around a bit, beginning in the USHL before going to the NCAA for one season, Mermis ended his junior career in the OHL where he played three seasons for the London Knights and Oshawa Generals. Mermis made his NHL debut as a 24-year-old with the Arizona Coyotes during the 2017-18 season. The Illinois native would spend two seasons in the desert before going to play one season with the New Jersey Devils. He then spent the past four seasons with the Minnesota Wild.

In 74 career games, Mermis registered four goals and 12 points to go along with 94 blocks and 85 hits averaging just over 14 minutes per game.