Toronto Maple Leafs Make Two Surprising Roster Moves Ahead of the Trade Deadline
The Toronto Maple Leafs made a couple of roster moves and swapped some junior defensemen as the team gears up for Friday's trade deadline.
With the NHL Trade Deadline culminating on a frenetic March 7, the Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to be one of the teams in play for one of several big key names who can help their team.
The Leafs have to figure out both cap and roster space, so may have tried to squeeze as much extra room as possible. On Monday, the team announced they had demoted defenseman Marshall Rifai to the Toronto Marlies and recalled defenseman Dakota Mermis.
Neither man has made much of an impact this season, as Mermis dealt wit the aftermath of jaw surgery, and Rifai has felt like the AHL is the most likely home for him at the current time, however there's always a shot he gets a look eventually.
Toronto's Minor Defensive Swap
Though it may not seem like the biggest deal in the world, as both players have been swapped in and out, waived, everything under the sun minus actually playing with the Maple Leafs.
Both men make identical amounts salary wise, although Mermis is a free agent at the end of the season meanwhile Rifai is signed until 2027. The team was reportedly high on Rifai and want to keep him around, so it could be a matter of waiting for the right time.
Rifai was signed out of Harvard University and has played only two career games with the Maple Leafs. He's recorded zero points but is a plus-1 in 11:40 TOI.
Mermis signed as a free agent as part of several smaller signings this past offseason.
Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2019, he's played in 75 career NHL games with four goals and eight assists with time spent in Arizona, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Utah; he did not play a game for the Maple Leafs yet.
It's unknown if Mermis is going to play for the team, however with the injury concerns to Chris Tanev and their past injury woes, Mermis could potentially get a look in an emergency situation.
