What Happened
The Toronto Maple Leafs brought up defencemen Dakota Mermis and Cole McWard from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. The roster additions arrive after Nick Blankenburg sustained an undisclosed injury during a game against the New York Rangers and moved to injured reserve. Toronto is currently missing additional blue-line depth as Chris Tanev and Marshall Rifai recover from lower-body injuries. Mermis spent time on waivers following training camp and played 11 games last season, while McWard joined the organization on a two-year, 1.75 million dollar contract during the summer.
Key Details
- Dakota Mermis and Cole McWard recalled from the AHL Toronto Marlies.
- Nick Blankenburg placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury.
- Chris Tanev and Marshall Rifai listed as week-to-week with lower-body injuries.
- Cole McWard carries a two-year, 1.75 million dollar contract.
What It Means
Multiple injuries on the defensive end forced the club to tap into its minor-league depth. The roster adjustments give the coaching staff fresh bodies to manage defensive pairing workloads during their upcoming schedule.
What's Next
The Toronto Maple Leafs play an away game against the Edmonton Oilers.