Maple Leafs’ Dakota Mermis undergoes jaw surgery, out week-to-week
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Friday defenseman Dakota Mermis underwent jaw surgery and is expected to be out several weeks.
Leafs D Dakota Mermis underwent surgery yesterday (jaw) and is listed as week-to-week.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) September 27, 2024Mermis, 30, signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Maple Leafs two days into free agency this past offseason and was a long shot to crack the NHL roster coming out of training camp. Last season the 6-foot blueliner appeared in a career-high 47 games for the Minnesota Wild, recording three goals and five assists. He averaged 14:05 of ice-time per game and filled in on the second penalty-kill unit.
Mermis has grinded out seven seasons in the NHL since joining the Arizona Coyotes as an undrafted free agent back in 2017-18. The Alton, IL native also enjoyed a brief 10-game stint with the New Jersey Devils in 2019-20, before spending the past four seasons in the Wild’s organization. He’s tallied four goals and 12 points in 74 career games.
Despite the uphill climb to make the Leafs’ roster this season, Mermis managed to appear in one preseason game, playing 21:05 of ice-time earlier in the week in a 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Signing in Toronto was a reunion of sorts for Mermis, who joined former London Knights teammates Mitch Marner, Max Domi, and Anthony Stolarz.
The Maple Leafs are coming off their first victory of the preseason, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Thursday night. With Chris Tanev, Morgan Rielly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe, Timothy Liljegren and Simon Benoit rounding out their top three pairings, and Conor Timmins and Jani Hakanpaa also fighting for a role, Mermis will be in tough to crack the lineup once healthy. This numbers game likely means some time with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies, where he’d look to put himself in the running for a call up later this year.
The Leafs head to Montreal on Saturday night to complete the second half of their home-and-home exhibition series with the Canadiens.