The Toronto Maple Leafs were active this offseason, adding more depth to the bottom of the lineup.
One of the moves that the Maple Leafs made was acquiring Dakota Joshua from the Vancouver Canucks. Joshua is expected to be a bottom-six forward who plays well defensively and can add some secondary scoring.
However, Maple Leafs insider Joshua Kloke of The Athletic said Joshua has been disappointing in camp and could take a bit to adjust to playing in Toronto.
“One of the Leafs’ few offseason acquisitions has flown too far under the radar through training camp,” Kloke wrote. “Practices and preseason will go by without him making an evident impact. Perhaps that’s what the Leafs want: a player who can be defensively sturdy and chew up ice time. But Joshua also scored 18 goals in 63 games in 2023-24.
“And right now, he doesn’t look to have found that offensive touch in Toronto,” Kloke added. “Now, with time, that production could come. Yet if you were to pick one player who could take time to adjust to Toronto this year, Joshua seems like he’s at the top of the list. Keep an eye on him.”
Joshua did play for Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube when he played for the St. Louis Blues, but even with that, Kloke expects Joshua to start slow.
The 29-year-old recorded 7 goals and 7 assists for 14 points in 57 games last season with the Canucks.
Joshua Hopeful to Help Maple Leafs Get Over The Hump
Toronto made the move to acquire Joshua to add more depth to the bottom of the lineup.
Joshua believes the Maple Leafs acquired him to add more depth to the lineup. He believes secondary scoring is key, and he believes he can bring that to the lineup to help Toronto get over the hump.
“I feel like for myself, adding to the depth of the team will help a lot,” Joshua said on Leafs Morning Take. “Not just relying so much on the top-end guys to pull through and get the job done in the end — you need everybody. You’ve seen it with the last few Stanley Cup champions: it’s a full team effort. You need everybody pitching in at the end of the year when push comes to shove.”
The Maple Leafs have dealt with plenty of playoff heartbreak, but Joshua is hopeful he will be able to help Toronto get over the hump.
Toronto Coach Has High Praise for Joshua
The Maple Leafs said they needed a DNA change this offseason, and that is exactly what happened.
Toronto saw Mitch Marner leave, while adding the likes of Joshua, Nic Roy, and Matias Maccelli this offseason. Berube believes Joshua and Roy will have an impact role with the Maple Leafs this season.
“I love the size of the both of them,” Berube said to the media. “I think it’s a line that can go out against any line in the league and hold them down, check them, and be physical and hard on them with the size and the strength that they have. They play similar games, down low in the offensive zone, checking, things like that. They’re hard to play against, that’s what I like.”
The Maple Leafs open their season on Oct. 8 against the Montreal Canadiens.
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