Pezzetta, Thrun, Mermis and Benning were among the 33 players across the NHL that went on waivers as teams across the league trim down their rosters for the start of the 2025-26 regular season. If all four players remain unclaimed by 2 p.m. on Monday, they can be assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
This marks the latest set of players put on waivers in the last 48 hours as Toronto put David Kampf and William Villeneuve through the waiver wire on Friday and both ended up clearing. Monday marks the deadline for teams to submit their rosters for the start of the regular season, so more decisions are expected to be forthcoming in the next 24 hours.
Pezzetta was among the Leafs’ marquee offseason signings, inking a two-year, $812.5K AAV deal on July 1st. He spent last season with the Montreal Canadiens, going scoreless in 25 games played. Thrun was the primary piece acquired in the Ryan Reaves trade with the San Jose Sharks and was considered to be among the standouts at training camp. This past year saw him record 12 points (two goals and 10 assists) in 60 games, and is set to be an RFA at the conclusion of this upcoming year.
Mermis is entering his second season with the Leafs after coming off a tumultuous one the prior year. He was signed as a depth option for the back end last season and was waived in December, being claimed by the Utah Mammoth. He was once again waived in January and subsequently re-claimed by the Maple Leafs. Mermis appeared in three regular-season games for the club last season, recording one assist.