Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign 3 depth players - D Dakota Mermis, D Philippe Myers and F Cédric Paré (1 year, $775k each)

[BertCorbeau]

Marlies vet D
LD Mermis Rifai
RD Myers Mattinen
Prospects
LD Webber Kokkonen
RD Niemela Villeneuve Sharpe (AHL deal)
Lots of call up options.
Another bunch of older college types on AHL contracts
Pretty deep. Marlies gonna be competitive.
Edit: congrats to Pare on his first NHL deal. Big kid, improving offence. Good to keep an eye on.

Drafted by Boston .. maybe he's the bizzaro-Brazeau

25 years old, maybe a late blooming big body.

The blue line has a great balance of puck movers and more physical stay at home types. It will be easy to fill gaps if there are injuries.

 

[DarkKnight]

Drafted by Boston .. maybe he's the bizzaro-Brazeau

25 years old, maybe a late blooming big body.

The blue line has a great balance of puck movers and more physical stay at home types. It will be easy to fill gaps if there are injuries.

That’s the word “balance”.

 

[keonsbitterness]

We always mock these depth signing every summer, then when the injury bug hits we’re glad we have the bodies.

Marlie signings matter. Gotta have enough good AHL vets to allow our prospects to develop.

 

[Advanced stats]

13 defensemen started at least 2 games for the leafs last season.

Chances are a couple of these guys see time.

 

[Magic Man]

Myers, like Murray is an interesting depth player to have under contract. Like Lagesson and Benoit last season, it is likely he competes with Timmins on the depth chart. He's good insurance.

The Marlies defense/goaltending is looking good.

Rifai - Niemela
Webber - Myers
Mermis - Timmins
ex. Kokkonen - Villeneuve
Sharpe (AHL) - Mattinen

Hildeby
Akhtyamov
ex. Murray
Peksa

The attention turns to depth forwards tomorrow. They have 3 RFA forwards to figure out and their are rumours around Mason Shaw. Even if they all sign they need a couple more solid depth forwards.

 

[Gabriel426]

What happened to Myers?

 

[aingefan]

Myers, like Murray is an interesting depth player to have under contract. Like Lagesson and Benoit last season, it is likely he competes with Timmins on the depth chart. He's good insurance.

The Marlies defense/goaltending is looking good.

Rifai - Niemela
Webber - Myers
Mermis - Timmins
ex. Kokkonen - Villeneuve
Sharpe (AHL) - Mattinen

Hildeby
Akhtyamov
ex. Murray
Peksa

The attention turns to depth forwards tomorrow. They have 3 RFA forwards to figure out and their are rumours around Mason Shaw. Even if they all sign they need a couple more solid depth forwards.

I imagine that’s how it shakes out pretty often.
I have a soft spot for WillyNeuve as a sneaky good prospect, so I hope he keeps developing and forces playing time.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

 

[Frostitute]

MERMAN

Fair enough. I never caugh one and fiddled around down there before.

 

[Dekes For Days]

More depth is always good.

 

[JEI]

Like Myers as a depth option RHD.

 

[Fogelhund]

""

 

[tmlfan98]

Myers could make the team, the other 2 are Marlies bound.

 

[The Nic]

Benoit would have been included in this depth group last summer. You just never know what a player can accomplish if you don't give him a chance...

 

[Roo]

No sarcastic ‘plan the parade post’ ? This board is maturing lol

 

[Mess]

Myers could make the team, the other 2 are Marlies bound.

Maybe not.

Maple Leafs ink yet another defenseman on day 2 of free agency.. After a quiet day 2 of free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs have announced another signing, 30-year-old Dakota Mermis, to help improve their blueline depth.​

The news comes from The Athletic's Jonas Siegel, who pointed out on Tuesday that Mermis is currently listed on the Leafs' active roster. Per the Leafs' official social media accounts, the deal is for 1 year at the league minimum ($775,000).

A rather obscure name in the NHL ranks, Mermis, an undrafted defenseman, has had to take the path less traveled to get to the NHL, using the ECHL and AHL to hone his skills.

Last season, Mermis found his way into a career high 47 NHL games with the Minnesota Wild, producing 3 goals, 8 points and 33 penalty minutes. He was a -2 in that span.​

 

[Machinae]

Leafs already had 8 NHL options, these signings push them to 9-10 (Is Myers an NHL viable option? Mermis certainly seems like he is a fine 6-7).

I wonder what they saw in Nicolas Mattinen? He's competing with a Marlies RD core of Myers, Niemela, and Villeneuve now, not to mention Timmins who could be a waiver candidate for cap reasons barring Hakanpaa's injury status. I wonder if he's a legit dark horse, or if in hindsight he would have been passed on after knowing what was available in UFA.

 

[Bravid Nonahan]

Leafs already had 8 NHL options, these signings push them to 9-10 (Is Myers an NHL viable option? Mermis certainly seems like he is a fine 6-7).

I wonder what they saw in Nicolas Mattinen? He's competing with a Marlies RD core of Myers, Niemela, and Villeneuve now, not to mention Timmins who could be a waiver candidate for cap reasons barring Hakanpaa's injury status. I wonder if he's a legit dark horse, or if in hindsight he would have been passed on after knowing what was available in UFA.

Mattinen was the MVP of the DEL, 46 pts in 52 games as a 6'5" RHD.

I think he's worth taking a look at.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

Pretty fun bets. The fellas from Minesota played a ton of NHL minutes than I expected. Was really surprised to see it

 

[The Shadow]

I’m predicting that Myers will be in the Leafs top 6 by the time the playoffs starts

I think he’s a guy who at 27 will get his chance and run with it much like Benoit. 6’6 and according to the Tampa GM looked too good for the AHL

I think this is the chance he’s been needing

 

[crump]

I like these depth players with NHL experience. When else other than mid summer can you talk about these guys. Myers always intrigued me with his size. Highlights from when he was with Philly
A right shot big man who is not afraid to hit and block shots.

Hockey Reference Page

Being a big man that doesn’t mind hitting he has had to drop the gloves a few times over the years. While not a great technical fighter, his natural size at least puts him on even ground to start. Wins as much as he loses, but at least will drop the gloves to protect a teammate.

To make the Leafs he will need to play a close to error free, safe game much like Benoit had to do.

There are a few ahead of him on the depth chart with Liljegren as the default the placeholder for the 6th spot , Timmins, Kokkonen, Webber, Rifai all gunning for first call up. Mattinen is probably also in there somewhere. The big question is who will adopt Marincin’s #52

 

[Stephen]

I like these depth players with NHL experience. When else other than mid summer can you talk about these guys. Myers always intrigued me with his size. Highlights from when he was with Philly
A right shot big man who is not afraid to hit and block shots.

Hockey Reference Page

Being a big man that doesn’t mind hitting he has had to drop the gloves a few times over the years. While not a great technical fighter, his natural size at least puts him on even ground to start. Wins as much as he loses, but at least will drop the gloves to protect a teammate.

To make the Leafs he will need to play a close to error free, safe game much like Benoit had to do.

There are a few ahead of him on the depth chart with Liljegren as the default the placeholder for the 6th spot , Timmins, Kokkonen, Webber, Rifai all gunning for first call up. Mattinen is probably also in there somewhere. The big question is who will adopt Marincin’s #52

Myers was on a much higher trajectory before the pandemic.