Leafs place Chris Tanev on injured reserve, recall Dakota Mermis
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Thursday that defenseman Chris Tanev has been placed on injured reserve and that fellow blueliner Dakota Mermis has been recalled from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
The Maple Leafs have recalled D Dakota Mermis from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
D Chris Tanev (upper body) has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to October 21, 2025.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) October 23, 2025
The transaction is retroactive to Oct. 21, meaning Tanev will be able to return Oct. 28 at the earliest.
Tanev was injured during the Maple Leafs’ game on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils after colliding with forward Dawson Mercer in front of the Toronto net. Tanev would require some assistance getting off the ice and head straight to the locker room.
Chris Tanev is headed to the room after this collision. pic.twitter.com/wJeyuEMwAk
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 22, 2025
Through his first six games of the 2025-26 season, Tanev, 35, has one assist and a plus-four rating while averaging 19:39 of ice time. Now in his second season with the club, the blueliner was acquired by Toronto from the Dallas Stars at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, then signed a six-year, $27 million contract that will pay him an annual average value (AAV) of $4.5 million through the 2029-30 season.
Through 16 NHL seasons, Tanev, a native of Toronto, has 36 goals and 173 assists for 209 points, averaging 19:57 of ice time in 873 career regular-season games with the Maple Leafs, Stars, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.
Meanwhile, Mermis has played in 78 career NHL games with the Maple Leafs, Devils, Utah Mammoth, Minnesota Wild and Arizona Coyotes. He has scored four goals and nine for 13 points during that span.
The Alton, Ill., native has also skated in parts of 10 AHL seasons, recording 21 goals and 125 assists for 140 points in 465 career regular-season games.