Dakota Joshua's name has come up in Maple Leafs trade talk

One year after being acquired for a 2028 fourth-round pick, Dakota Joshua's has now come up in trade talks, and the Maple Leafs could potentially move on.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua might be the odd man looking in headed into the summer of 2026.

According to NHL insider David Pagnotta on the Leafs Morning Take show, the forward has had his name come up in trade talks in the last few days.

There was some talk of Joshua's name kind of out there in the last couple of days, he's got two years left at $3.25M. He does have a limited 12-team no-trade list. So there's some protection there for him.

But I did hear his name is kind of buzzing around, especially after they made all these moves and signed one guy after another.

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Joshua has limited trade protection, has two years left at $3.25 million per season, and last season had 10 goals and eight assists in 55 games for the Maple Leafs.

However, it should be noted that Joshua played on a Maple Leafs team that sold at the deadline and was, in general, a down year and also dealt with a serious injury which involved a lacerated kidney that kept him out long-term.

But in just one year, from former general manager Brad Treliving acquiring him for a 2028 fourth-round pick, his name has now come up in trade talks, and the Maple Leafs could potentially move on.

Dakota Joshua's name is suddenly part of the Leafs' roster construction

Joshua's name had not been in a lot of rumours prior, but now rumours are starting to swirl.

The Maple Leafs, under new general manager John Chayka, have seen an incredible amount of roster turnover and aggressiveness to act quickly and retool this roster.

Dakota Joshua might be the person who is going to hear his name next on the trade block.

Joshua is not a bad player and packs strong physicality, being 6'3 and around 220 pounds with decent defensive play.

However, fit has to be a conversation here, and with the Leafs making a bunch of new additions, they likely won't move or flip those positions.

Toronto has an abundance of left-handed shooters in their forward group, so much so they might need to move on from one or multiple, even with additions to address the right-handed shooter issue, though they did add his old linemate in Teddy Blueger so there could be some plan in mind going forward at least temporarily.

Toronto may be testing the market before making its next move

Now, because these rumours are so recent, it does not necessarily mean we will see a move actually happen, or if a move does happen, for it to occur right away.

Chayka has been incredibly aggressive, so if things pick up steam or things drop at random, do not be shocked.

But gauging the market and what other people value your players at is key, especially if you are making a subtraction from the roster. Shopping a player around is normal, and having conversations with other front offices is pretty key in terms of figuring out what moves to make next.

Whether or not Joshua is sold for picks, or is used as a piece in a trade package as a throw-in, we might not be sure, but considering history, the ceiling of the player and contract, selling him is likely going to be a pick package.

Ultimately, only time will tell if these rumours pick up steam. Dakota Joshua might not be a Toronto Maple Leaf before the season starts, and with how creative this front office has gotten, predicting where he goes and for what is going to be incredibly difficult.

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