The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed defenceman Dakota Mermis on waivers, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Mermis (TOR) Aston-Reese & Gaunce (CLB) on waivers
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 27, 2026
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Mermis had been previously assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies on a long-term injured reserve (LTIR) conditioning loan on January 12th as he works his way back from a lower-body injury. Mermis got into a game with the Marlies on Sunday, so him being placed on waivers indicates that the conditioning loan is complete and he will remain with the AHL team should he clear by 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
He has been out of game action since December 8th after a knee-on-knee collision with Tampa Bay Lightning forward Gage Goncalves. The team put him on LTIR on December 10th, where he has been for over two months. Goncalves was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the infraction, but did not receive any supplementary discipline from the NHL Department of Player Safety.
Mermis is in his second year with the Leafs organization, having originally joined in the summer of 2024 on a one-year, $775K contract. He spent the majority of last season with the Marlies, but was waived in December 2024 and subsequently claimed by the Utah Mammoth, for which he’d appear in one game before the Mammoth placed him on waivers and the Leafs re-claimed him. He opted to re-sign with the team in the offseason on a two-year deal with an AAV of $812.5K.
This season has seen Mermis get an extended look with the Leafs after the team suffered long-term injuries to the likes of Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo back in November. Before suffering his lower-body injury, Mermis appeared in 11 NHL games where he recorded a goal, eight hits, and nine blocks.
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