Major Setback: Leafs Confirms Another Worst Challenge as Star Player Faces Long-Term Injury

The Maple Leafs recently achieved their first preseason win, beating the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Thursday night. Leafs are set to face the Canadiens again on Saturday night to wrap up the second half of their home-and-home exhibition series but this time without there key player.

MINNESOTA WILD RECALLS DAKOTA MERMIS FROM IOWA | Iowa Wild

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Friday that defenseman Dakota Mermis has undergone jaw surgery and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

Mermis, 30, signed a one-year, $775,000 deal with the Maple Leafs just two days into free agency this past offseason, although he was considered a long shot to make the NHL roster after training camp. Last season, the 6-foot defenseman played a career-high 47 games with the Minnesota Wild, scoring three goals and adding five assists, while averaging 14:05 of ice time per game and contributing to the second penalty-kill unit.

Having spent seven seasons in the NHL since joining the Arizona Coyotes as an undrafted free agent in 2017-18, the Alton, IL native had a brief 10-game spell with the New Jersey Devils in 2019-20, before spending the last four years with the Wild. Overall, he has recorded four goals and 12 points in 74 NHL games.

Despite the challenge of making the Leafs’ roster this season, Mermis played in one preseason game, logging 21:05 of ice time earlier in the week during a 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. His signing with Toronto also reunites him with former London Knights teammates Mitch Marner, Max Domi, and Anthony Stolarz.

The Maple Leafs recently achieved their first preseason win, beating the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Thursday night. With players like Chris Tanev, Morgan Rielly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe, Timothy Liljegren, and Simon Benoit solidifying their top three defensive pairings, as well as Conor Timmins and Jani Hakanpaa also competing for spots, Mermis faces stiff competition for a place in the lineup once he’s healthy. This likely means he’ll spend some time with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, where he aims to position himself for a potential call-up later this season.

The Leafs are set to face the Canadiens again on Saturday night to wrap up the second half of their home-and-home exhibition series.

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