Dakota Joshua talks frustrations and opportunity ahead after trade from Canucks to Maple Leafs

Dakota Joshua is ready to put his 2024-25 season behind him. Only now, he’ll attempt to do that as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs instead of the Vancouver Canucks.

The Canucks dealt Joshua to the Leafs following a disappointing season that began with a testicular cancer diagnosis that kept Joshua out for training camp and the first month and a half of the season. Upon returning, Joshua attempted to find his footing, and just when it seemed like he’d begun to turn the corner, he then has to miss more time with a lower-body injury. The end result was 14 points through 57 games, in a year Joshua called a “setback.”

In conversation with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill of Leafs Morning Take, Joshua talked about the frustrations of this past season, and expressed his excitement about joining the Leafs.

“That was a tough situation to go through. I was getting ready for training camp and had a good summer behind me. To go through that, especially after signing a new deal, was tough. There was a little bit of a period where I’m not sure how to go about it mentally, and then obviously it’s tough news to break to everybody… My teammates at the time were very helpful and supportive, which made it easier, but just having to miss training camp and then being behind the 8-ball from the start didn’t really do me any good. It felt like I was playing catch-up the whole season. I’m definitely tougher for the situation and facing that adversity for sure, but also, [it’s] a year I want to put behind me and keep moving forward. I’m very happy and thankful to be in good health now and once again try to build my career and keep going.”

Joshua now prepares to turn the page and help the Leafs slay some playoff demons.

“I feel like for myself, adding to the depth of the team will help a lot.  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 Leafs originally drafted Joshua in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, but he never suited up for an NHL game for the club before they traded him to the St. Louis Blues. Joshua’s NHL career took off in Vancouver, and after a 32-point 2023-24 campaign, the Canucks re-signed Joshua to a four-year deal with a $3.25 million AAV.

“I think the biggest thing, no doubt, is the confidence of it all,” said Joshua when talking about what kind of player he is now compared to when he was last part of the Leafs’ organization. “Starting off and kind of finding out how it works, and you gotta find your niche and what’s gonna keep you in the lineup every night on any level really was a big part of me. Early on, maybe I didn’t understand fully what I needed to do or what it took to be an everyday NHL player. But over the years, that’s come along, and the last few years in Vancouver getting to play out the full seasons and knowing what it takes night in and night out has done me good and prepared me to keep progressing.”

You can watch the full Leafs Morning Take interview with Joshua below!