<a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>The Maple Leafs</a> have claimed Dakota Mermis off waivers from Utah, and he has been assigned to the AHL <a href='https://www.marlies.ca/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Toronto Marlies</a>. The Maple Leafs have claimed defenseman Dakota Mermis off waivers from Utah. Toronto has sent him straight to the AHL Marlies. The Leafs had an open roster spot after sending Marshall Rifai to the minors. <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl/news/a-player-the-leafs-lost-on-waivers-has-just-been-waived-by-utah-toronto-could-exact-revenge' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>The 30-year-old was waived by Utah yesterday</a>. Utah had claimed him from Toronto back on December 12 when the Leafs attempted to send him to their AHL affiliate after a conditioning stint. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1875261942547481046'> </a></blockquote></div> Dakota <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/dakota-mermis-8477541' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Mermis</a> suited up in just one game for Utah, going -2 in 10:47 of ice time against the Ducks on December 22 before being a healthy scratch in eight other games. Utah picked up Mermis with a number of injuries on the backend, such as absences for Robert Bortuzzo, Maveric Lamoureux, Sean Durzi, and John Marino. With Robert Bortuzzo returning from IR for Friday's tilt against the Flames, Mermis was no longer needed. In order to activate Bortuzzo, <a href='https://www.nhl.com/utah/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>the Utah HC</a> plans to retroactively place goaltender Connor Ingram, who hasn't played since November 18, on IR. Mermis signed a one-year, one-way deal with Toronto in free agency but has not appeared yet for the club after sustaining a jaw injury in training camp. <a href='https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/maple-leafs-dakota-mermis-reclaimed-off-waivers/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>He will be sent to the AHL</a>, which means he likely won't make his debut with the Leafs just yet. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/DFOFantasy/status/1875262438943449526'> </a></blockquote></div> In his eighth NHL season, Mermis has 12 points and a +3 rating in 75 career games. He played a career-high 47 games last season with the Wild, only the second time he has avoided significant AHL assignments.