The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired forward Dakota Joshua from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. The trade, announced on Thursday, marks Joshua's return to the organization that drafted him in the fifth round in 2014.
Joshua, 29, is under contract for three more seasons with an average annual value of $3.25 million. In 57 games with the Canucks during the 2024-25 season, he recorded 7 goals and 7 assists for 14 points.
Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving is betting that Joshua can recapture the form he displayed during the 2023-24 season when he tallied 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 points in 63 games. Joshua's physical style of play is expected to bring grit to the Maple Leafs lineup. Over the past three seasons, he has recorded 660 hits. He is also regarded as a gifted defender.
Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin acknowledged Joshua's difficult off-ice situation last season and praised his efforts to help the team.
Joshua was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the summer of 2024, which caused him to miss training camp. He returned to play in November.
With the acquisition of Joshua, the Maple Leafs' bottom-six forward group has become crowded. The team may look to trade some of their depth players with high cap hits.
Joshua's versatility allows him to play both left wing and center. His strengths lie in his defensive abilities and penalty killing, while he is more of a goal scorer than a playmaker.
Some analysts believe that Joshua could push Scott Laughton to the left wing, while Laughton was initially acquired to be the team's third-line center. Others suggest that the Maple Leafs' season outlook has improved with Joshua's arrival, especially if he regains his 2023-24 form. His physical presence and potential for increased opportunities in Toronto are seen as positives.
Joshua's journey in the NHL began after the Maple Leafs traded his rights to the St. Louis Blues in 2019. He made his NHL debut with the Blues in 2021. He then signed with the Canucks in 2022. In three seasons with Vancouver, Joshua amassed 36 goals and 33 assists in 199 games.
