Fans weren't sold at first, but this new Leaf is starting to win people over

After a slow start to the season, Leafs fans are finally seeing the good in forward Dakota Joshua, and the player they were hoping to emerge.

Joshua, acquired by the Leafs from the Vancouver Canucks, had rebounded from a slow start to the season to become a valuable piece for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After just five points in his first 20 games as a Leaf, Joshua has doubled his output in his last 10 with four goals and an assist, including the game-winning goal in Toronto's 3-2 comeback victory against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Dakota Joshua is finally becoming the player that the Leafs had hoped for when they acquired him, managing to be the bottom-six offensive option they wanted.

Having struggled last season after a bout with testicular cancer, Joshua had a slow start, but is quickly rebounding into the player that he was prior to his previous health scare.

It's a positive development for Joshua who is rebounding as the type of player the Leafs wanted as a two-way forward who could provide an additional layer of offense lacking in the Leafs depth.

Joshua has found chemistry with Nicolas Roy as an engaging shutdown pair that can provide energy on defense and in transition, and now showing up more on the offensive side.

Roy is another player who has found more offense as of recent, with six of his 10 points coming within the last 10 games for Toronto, but has been inconsistent with zero points in his last four games.

For the Toronto Maple Leafs offense to work, they'll need help from their depth to push through and provide relief for their top-six, and Dakota Joshua is one of the players Toronto will need to see his production grow into a consistent offensive asset.

The problem for the Leafs last season came on the offensive end with a lack of depth scoring, a problem exposed greater in the playoffs with a lack of scoring against Florida.

Especially so is offense more needed when the top-six isn't performing as they need to. With Auston Matthews having had some struggles and William Nylander having been asked to do more by Craig Berube, the depth forwards need to pick up some of the slack.

One of the key areas for Toronto to be a playoff team and make a deep run is through their depth scorers able to supply some offense, and not leave scoring up to just the top-six.