If the Maple Leafs want to open up cap space for a future deal then they could look to a player who could potentially use a new change of scenery.
As Toronto deals with a slew of injuries to their lineup, they are luckily getting some reinforcements back. Chris Tanev has been upgraded to day-to-day and could see action this weekend, and Dakota Joshua was just recalled from the Marlies.
They need as much insurance as they need but it's the latter that is drawing some attention - especially with the Maple Leafs needing to make a deal in the near future.
Dakota Joshua's stay in Toronto could be over as quickly as it started
David Pagnotta appeared on Off the Roster and explained that Toronto's game plan could involve trading Joshua to clear up space for now and next year, and given he was replaced with several different bodies this summer, it could be high on the priority list:
There's not a lot of space for him; he's a player that I believe has been out there; they need to free up some room now and next season; I've been curious...if they do find another suitor for him.
Joshua, 31, hasn't played yet this season after suffering a core injury that has kept him on the shelf since the preseason. He also struggled to stay healthy last year after suffering a lacerated kidney in a game against Detroit which kept him out for 19 games.
Acquired in the summer of 2025 from the Canucks, the team actually originally drafted Joshua back in 2017 but then traded him to the St. Louis Blues for future considerations - a deal that still has not seen a final resolution.
He was brought in due to his familiarity with Craig Berube and fitting his rough-n-tumble style of play. However, with a new coach in Jim Hiller and a much more focused bottom-six that has actual purpose - Joshua really doesn't have a spot anymore.
Would there be any teams willing to take a chance on Joshua?
With that being said, are there any suitors for Joshua in the first place? I mean, most teams would have at least some minor interest in a 6-foot-3, 220-pound power forward who loves to hit and can play an effective net-front game.
But he's also a year removed from a serious injury, and has yet to touch the ice this year. It's hard to know how much time he'll get to play especially once Toronto's wounded start to return.
Joshua makes $3.25M for this season and for 2027-28, so he's not a long-term or expensive commitment. For playoff contenders who want to add some extra size and scoring help to their bottom-six he makes sense.
A couple of potential suitors for him could be the Winnipeg Jets, Utah Mammoth, Tampa Bay Lightning or even their provincial rivals Ottawa. All those teams could use some added toughness, scoring and protection to the lineup and Joshua won't cost them much in terms of assets, or financial commitment.
But whether he actually gets traded remains to be seen, but if the Maple Leafs have no room for him and need space more than they need his potential - his time with the team could be over before it really even started.
Do you think Dakota Joshua should be traded or in the Maple Leafs lineup?
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Maple Leafs can now acquire a 448-game NHL veteran defenseman off waivers