Dakota Joshua is already dealing with an injury according to head coach Jim Hiller, leading to his absence on Saturday and questions about his readiness for 2026-27.
Saturday night didn't go exactly the way the Maple Leafs had planned, losing both of their split-squad games against the Montreal Canadiens. There were some bright spots for sure, and it's going to take time for everyone to acclimate and get used to the new faces in the lineup.
One face that wasn't seen on Saturday for either team was forward Dakota Joshua, who was not penciled into the lineup as questions immediately jumped to whether or not he was injured - or if Toronto was already indicating their next move.
Dakota Joshua already dealing with injury concerns
However, it seems like it's more the latter for the Maple Leafs, as head coach Jim Hiller let the media know that Joshua was indeed hurt. Hiller explained that Joshua is currently 'dealing with something' though neglected to go into more details:
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Joshua, 30, had 18 points in 55 games for the Maple Leafs last season, though missed a large chunk of time after suffering a lacerated kidney against the Detroit Red Wings in December; he was brought in last summer in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round pick.
Luckily for the Maple Leafs they did more than enough work this past summer to ensure their bottom-six was as deep as possible, and if Joshua is going to miss any amount of time now or later on in the year, he's got coverage.
Should Toronto just move on from Dakota Joshua?
If he is going to be dealing with injury concerns already and with enough people to take his spot, the cap-strapped Maple Leafs could move on from his $3.25M contract. John Chayka isn't shy about getting rid of players, and if there's no need for Joshua currently, then it's dead money.
While Joshua deserves a shot and can contribute, he was also brought in due to his chemistry with Craig Berube - who is long, long gone. Plus, there are younger players like Luke Haymes, Jacob Quillan, and Marc Johnstone who are all ready to become NHL regulars and need that bottom-six spot to start.
Waiving him solves the money issue, but then you have an expensive veteran taking minutes away from prospects. Even if you don't recoup a lot from trading him, at this point it may be best to part ways. That gives Joshua a chance to find more playing time elsewhere while not handcuffing Toronto into a contract they don't need.
Dakota Joshua's time in Toronto isn't done just yet, but if there are already concerns about his fit on the team, then he may not be here that much longer.
Should the Maple Leafs move on from Dakota Joshua?
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