<p>The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Monday that they called up defenceman Dakota Mermis and sent down Marshall Rifai to the Toronto Marlies.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Maple Leafs D Marshall Rifai has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL).</p>
<p>D Dakota Mermis has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).</p>
<p>&mdash; Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1896576368428884225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>This comes in anticipation of Calle Jarnkrok potentially making his season debut against the San Jose Sharks during the Leafs&#8217; brief return home. After Monday&#8217;s game, the team heads back on the road for a three-game road trip out West, during which the trade deadline will come and go.</p>
<p>The Leafs are likely doing this to swap around their seventh defenceman since both players would have to go through waivers if they are on the roster for a certain amount of time. With Chris Tanev out with an injury he suffered during Tuesday&#8217;s game against the Boston Bruins, who <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/chris-tanev-placed-ir-retroactive-february-25-connor-dewar-activated-leafs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was placed on injured reserve</a> before Sunday&#8217;s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins &#8211; this continues to allow the Leafs to have some insurance on the back end in the event of more ailments to the regulars.</p>
<p>Rifai was previously recalled to the NHL squad on Friday <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-place-max-pacioretty-ir-marshall-rifai-called-up-toronto-marlies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">when they placed Max Pacioretty on injured reserve</a> due to suffering an injury before a practice. The 26-year-old defenceman has been <a class="text-accent" href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-place-jake-mccabe-ir-recall-marshall-rifai" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">frequently called up by the Maple Leafs</a> throughout the year but has yet to suit up in an NHL game. Rifai has recorded nine points (three goals and six assists) in 44 games with the Marlies this season and is signed on to a two-year extension that kicks in next season with an AAV of $875K.</p>
<p>Mermis has also not gotten into a game with the Leafs this season but has been through quite a tumultuous campaign to this point. He missed time due to having<a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-assign-defenceman-dakota-mermis-to-ahl-on-a-ltir-conditioning-loan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> jaw surgery during the preseason</a> and was lost on waivers to the Utah Hockey Club before then being reclaimed by the Leafs weeks later. He has recorded six assists in 20 AHL games with the Marlies while going scoreless in his lone game with Utah. The 31-year-old blueliner initially joined the Leafs <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-reportedly-sign-depth-defenceman-dakota-mermis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as a Day 2 signing</a>, along with Philippe Myers and Cedric Pare, coming in with an AAV of $775K.</p>
<p>The Leafs are set to take on the Sharks on Monday, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.</p>
<p><strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong></p>
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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Monday that they called up defenceman Dakota Mermis and sent down Marshall Rifai to the Toronto Marlies.
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https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1896576368428884225

This comes in anticipation of Calle Jarnkrok potentially making his season debut against the San Jose Sharks during the Leafs' brief return home. After Monday's game, the team heads back on the road for a three-game road trip out West, during which the trade deadline will come and go.

The Leafs are likely doing this to swap around their seventh defenceman since both players would have to go through waivers if they are on the roster for a certain amount of time. With Chris Tanev out with an injury he suffered during Tuesday's game against the Boston Bruins, who <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/chris-tanev-placed-ir-retroactive-february-25-connor-dewar-activated-leafs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was placed on injured reserve</a> before Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins - this continues to allow the Leafs to have some insurance on the back end in the event of more ailments to the regulars.

Rifai was previously recalled to the NHL squad on Friday <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-place-max-pacioretty-ir-marshall-rifai-called-up-toronto-marlies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">when they placed Max Pacioretty on injured reserve</a> due to suffering an injury before a practice. The 26-year-old defenceman has been <a class="text-accent" href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-place-jake-mccabe-ir-recall-marshall-rifai" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">frequently called up by the Maple Leafs</a> throughout the year but has yet to suit up in an NHL game. Rifai has recorded nine points (three goals and six assists) in 44 games with the Marlies this season and is signed on to a two-year extension that kicks in next season with an AAV of $875K.

Mermis has also not gotten into a game with the Leafs this season but has been through quite a tumultuous campaign to this point. He missed time due to having<a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-assign-defenceman-dakota-mermis-to-ahl-on-a-ltir-conditioning-loan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> jaw surgery during the preseason</a> and was lost on waivers to the Utah Hockey Club before then being reclaimed by the Leafs weeks later. He has recorded six assists in 20 AHL games with the Marlies while going scoreless in his lone game with Utah. The 31-year-old blueliner initially joined the Leafs <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-reportedly-sign-depth-defenceman-dakota-mermis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as a Day 2 signing</a>, along with Philippe Myers and Cedric Pare, coming in with an AAV of $775K.

The Leafs are set to take on the Sharks on Monday, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.

<strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong>
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