Toronto Maple Leafs place 32-year-old defenseman on Waivers

Just moments ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs made the difficult decision to put defenseman Dakota Mermis on waivers.

The Leafs have an abundance of defensemen right now, and with Mermis struggling to get into the lineup due to injuries and other factors, the Leafs had to make a decision.

Now, rival teams will have until 2 PM on Wednesday to claim him. If he goes unclaimed, the Leafs will send Mermis down to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.

So far this season, Mermis has played a total of 11 games, and has only managed just one goal. Although, it should be noted he is not an offensive defenseman.

Whatever the case may be, the Maple Leafs have shown that the defensive position is deep on the roster, even if they have had to scrape the bottom of the barrel for talent at times.

The injuries have been mounting, but with Troy Stecher rising to the occasion, there just isn't much room for Mermis.

At this stage, it remains to be seen whether or not there will be a waiver market for him, or if he will end up going back to the AHL.

He is a good player for the Maple Leafs to have when the going gets tough. He is someone they can call up whenever they need.

Having said that, it is clear to us that the Maple Leafs are in a bit of a situation as it pertains to their roster and its construction.

The recent string of bad losses is further proof that this team needs to do a lot more than just put Mermis on waivers.

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