Ahead of Thursday’s game against the Seattle Kraken, the Toronto Maple Leafs have assigned defencemen Henry Thrun and Dakota Mermis to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. In a corresponding move, the Maple Leafs called up defenceman Marshall Rifai from the Marlies.
Thrun did not record a point in four games with the Maple Leafs this season, while recording three goals and 14 points in 28 games with the Marlies. He was acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks last summer, in exchange for Ryan Reaves. Thrun has been afforded an opportunity to carve out a third-pair role with the Maple Leafs, and could be back in the NHL shortly if injuries continue to mount.
Mermis cleared waivers Tuesday after recording one goal in 11 games with the Maple Leafs this season. He has not recorded a point in three games with the Marlies.
Rifai has recorded four assists in 12 games with the Marlies this season. The 27-year-old missed the start of the season, after suffering a wrist injury during a preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens. Rifai underwent wrist surgery, was eventually called up to the Maple Leafs, but cleared waivers in December. Rifai presents a physical presence for a Maple Leafs’ team that is among the worst defensive teams in the NHL, while mired in a five-game losing streak.
“We need more desperation defending, and the goalies need to stop the puck,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said following Tuesday’s 7-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. “That’s it. We can score goals. We score goals. But until we want to keep the puck out of our net, this is what we’re going to get. It is no more than that. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. That’s all it is. I don’t need to learn anything about our team. I know our team, and we’re capable of doing it. We can do it.”
Rifai will now join the Leafs on a road trip leading into the Olympic break, which could dictate the Maple Leafs’ strategy at the deadline, while looking to cement his role on a defence corps looking for answers.
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