Toronto Maple Leafs make necessary roster move involving 32-year-old defenseman

Dakota Mermis got to play 11 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season before suffering an injury that kept him out for a long time.

Recently, Mermis has been participating in practice, and it's clear that every single week, he has been improving and ramping up his pace.

However, he is mostly known as an AHL guy, and with the Leafs tapped out when it comes to their defensive assignments, it seems clear that Mermis is destined for the Toronto Marlies.

With that being said, the Leafs had to make a big decision involving Mermis this morning, and it was a decision that was not taken lightly.

According to the Maple Leafs' PR account on social media, Mermis has been sent down to the Toronto Marlies for a conditioning stint.

However, the assumption is that once this is over, Mermis will rejoin the Leafs and then immediately hit waivers. From there, the Leafs can permanently send him to the Marlies if he clears.

Mermis is 32 years old and is someone who has bounced around the NHL and the AHL over the past few years, so this isn't a shock to him.

He is one of those guys who is good enough to play in the NHL, but not good enough to consistently crack a roster and stay there for an entire season.

It is a tough position for any player to be in, and we're sure he doesn't feel amazing about this predicament. Having said that, professional sports tend to be like that.

Hopefully, his recovery continues to trend in the right direction, and he can get himself back into playing shape in short order.

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