Maple Leafs place Chris Tanev on injured reserve, recall Dakota Mermis

Chris Tanev was placed on injured reserve on Thursday, the team announced. Fellow blue-liner Dakota Mermis was recalled from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies in a corresponding move.

Tanev, 35, suffered an upper-body injury during Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

The shot-blocking specialist left the ice early in the second period after an inadvertent hit to the head by Devils forward Dawson Mercer. The back of Mercer’s head appeared to collide with Tanev’s face during a net-front battle.

Tanev stayed down on the ice for a few moments before skating off with the help of defence partner Jake McCabe and a team trainer.

Tanev is in the midst of his second season in Toronto after signing a six-year, $27-million deal prior to the 2024-25 campaign.

In 75 games last year, the rugged blue-liner notched three goals and 15 assists while blocking a whopping 189 shots — good for the sixth-most in the league — while averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per night.

Tanev has one assist through seven contests this season.

Mermis, 31, played four NHL games last season with the Maple Leafs and Utah, recording one assist.

For his career, the six-foot left-shot defenceman has appeared in 78 games with four goals and nine assists. He has also suited up for the Arizona Coyotes, New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild.

The Leafs’ next game is Friday in Buffalo against the Sabres (Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet+, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT).

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