Maple Leafs Recall Cole McWard, Dakota Mermis

The Toronto Maple Leafs desperately need defensive reinforcements ahead of their upcoming road trip through the NHL’s Pacific Division. According to a team announcement, the Maple Leafs recalled Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Toronto now has nine defensemen on their active roster.

Unfortunately, not all nine will be available. Defenseman Chris Tanev is the only defenseman the Maple Leafs have placed on injured reserve up to this point, though a few more could follow. According to Arun Srinivasan of Daily Faceoff Toronto, Tanev is still considered week-to-week, though he will travel with the team.

Aside from Tanev, defensemen Nick Blankenburg (undisclosed), Jake McCabe (face), and Marshall Rifai (lower-body) are dealing with injuries and may not be available for Toronto against the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow.

Those question marks influenced the recalls for McWard and Mermis. McWard, 25, is in his first year with the Maple Leafs after spending last season with the New York Islanders. He spent most of his time with the now-defunct Bridgeport Islanders, where he scored six goals and 27 points in 63 games with a -11 rating. This year, with the Marlies, McWard has registered three assists in five contests.

Meanwhile, Mermis, 32, is much more familiar with the Maple Leafs organization. Toronto claimed Mermis off waivers in January of the 2024-25 campaign from the Utah Mammoth, then the Utah Hockey Club. Since then, Mermis has appeared in 14 games for the Maple Leafs, scoring a goal and an assist while averaging 13:49 of ice time. He’s understandably been more productive with AHL Toronto, registering one goal and nine points in 66 games with a +4 rating.

Although it is hardly a groundbreaking transaction, it’s somewhat surprising. Instead of recalling top prospect Ben Danford, who has registered three assists in six games with the Marlies this season, the Maple Leafs have opted for a different route. Despite holding Danford in high regard, it’s clear that the organization believes he needs more seasoning in the AHL before he is promoted.

Additionally, today’s transaction won’t be the last of Toronto’s roster movement. The Maple Leafs will have to reassign another player, or place one of their several injured players on injured reserve ahead of tomorrow’s contest. Toronto has 24 players on the active roster after recalling McWard and Mermis, one more than the maximum.