Simon Fearn-Imagn Images

New Maple Leaf Dakota Joshua says he’ll be wearing Phil Kessel’s old No.81 in Toronto

Originally posted on TheLeafsnation | By Alex Hobson | Last updated Jul 23, 2025 9:10 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs swung a deal to acquire forward Dakota Joshua from the Vancouver Canucks in recent days, further boosting their bottom-six as they look to adapt to life without Mitch Marner in the 2025-26 season. This is not to say that Joshua is a replacement for Marner by any means, but it’s clear that the Leafs are approaching the upcoming season with an emphasis on improving their depth throughout the lineup.

Joshua flirted with 20 goals in 2023-24 and earned himself a four-year extension with the Canucks as a result, but after being diagnosed with testicular cancer following the season, he underwent surgery and missed the first month of the 2024-25 season. His effort level was there, but he was understandably a step behind the rest of his team and the rest of the league. The Maple Leafs are taking a gamble bringing him in, with an average annual value (AAV) of $3.25 million owed for the next three years, but if he can channel the version of himself from two years ago, it’s clear the Leafs are happy to pay his bills for the next three years.

Joshua spoke to Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun on Tuesday where he confirmed the jersey number he’ll be wearing, taking the number of an old friend who last played for the Maple Leafs in 2015.

New Leaf Dakota Joshua tells us he'll wear Phil Kessel's old 81 this year, Joshua's number in Vancouver. He knew beforehand Kessel is also a testicular cancer survivor. "I love the mojo there and hoping to play a long time here like he did."

— Lance Hornby (@sunhornby) July 22, 2025

Kessel spent six seasons with the Maple Leafs between 2009-2015 and was a bright spot in a very dark period of Leafs hockey. He hit the 30-goal mark four times in those six seasons and took lots of unnecessary criticism simply for being the star player on a horribly-constructed team. After being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, he won two Cups with them before adding a third to his repertoire as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23. While he’s not the last Leaf to wear #81 (defenceman Mac Hollowell briefly wore it in 2022-23), he’s easily the most iconic Leaf to wear that number and Joshua will look bring it some honour.

This article first appeared on TheLeafsnation and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: