Merilainen will draw the start on the road in Wednesday's split-squad preseason game, per the NHL media site.
Merilainen will be backstopping what is largely a minor-league group on the road. Merilainen may start the 2026-27 campaign with AHL Belleville if he goes on waivers, as Linus Ullmark and Samuel Ersson are expected to be the NHL goaltending duo.