Projected Line Combos: Where Does Dakota Joshua Fit in the Leafs' Forward Group?
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
With the acquisition of Dakota Joshua on Thursday, it shook things up for the Maple Leafs' lineup this upcoming season, so where exactly would he fit best in a Craig Berube lineup?
There's a lot of discussion about where the new acquisitions for the Maple Leafs are going to fit into a Craig Berube lineup.
An identity change is in full effect, and while there are still some moves to be made, we can get a decent idea of how the lineup will turn out.
But their latest addition, Dakota Joshua, is going to add a great dynamic to the squad and is looking to have a bounce back season after a very serious health scare.
Where Dakota Joshua Fits in the Depth Chart
So where exactly does the team put him? They have a ton of bottom-six players including new signing Michael Pezzetta, and are still holding onto Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf.
Plus we've got Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson who still need spots, and Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz still exist. But for a player like Joshua, he may have the edge over some.
There's also Easton Cowan fighting for a spot, and if he's the one who ends up playing instead of Pezzetta, then Laughton can move to the third line while Joshua can give Cowan a ton of help alongside Lorentz.
Joshua's better offensively than Pezzetta and offers the same physicality, though falls short in the scoring department when it comes to Robertson and McMann.
More than a 13th forward, Joshua could be someone who is viewed as primarily a fourth line player with the potential to slide in and out of the third line depending on circumstances.
Could Joshua Be the Perfect Fit Next to Nicolas Roy?
Let's say that Joshua earns himself a third-line spot out of camp, and Toronto decides to move on from Nick Robertson (who hasn't played to his potential, and really doesn't fit with the new-look Leafs), how will he actually lineup?
Knies - Matthews - Domi
Maccelli - Tavares - Nylander
Joshua - Roy - McMann
Pezzetta - Laughton - Lorentz
This lineup depends on Calle Jarnkrok, David Kampf, and Robertson gone which is easier said than done but is still a very good possibility.
Roy is an underrated playmaker and defender who could use the extra space Joshua would provide, and with his ability to crash the net, Roy can find him in close to get the offense going.
Plus, Joshua gets the benefit of playing with a spark plug like McMann, who can both hit and score, so he'll be able to both earn some helpers with McMann in transition.
How His Arrival Affects Kampf, McMann, and Jarnkrok
Well, it's pretty much showing the writing on the wall for Jarnkrok and Kampf that their time in Toronto is nearly done.
Though they haven't been able to find a trade for the two, the Maple Leafs are going to be better off without them with the extra roster and cap space.
This effectively gives Toronto a younger forward who fits better with the current coaching system albeit a bit more expensive.
McMann on the other hand gets a chance to play with a player who has solid NHL experience and has a definitive role, plus he can benefit from Joshua's aggressiveness.
Not that Joshua is going to be the playmaker on that line, but McMann getting more open space for Roy to find him in gives his more chances to break out and hit 20+ goals. He finally has someone who can play defense, hit, and let him use his strengths.
Either way you spin it, Dakota Joshua is going to be a menace on the ice for the Maple Leafs. Whether it's the third line, fourth line, penalty kill or what have you; Toronto got themselves quite the underrated player for their new-look game plan.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 18 | 1670 ANSWERS Projected Line Combos: Where Does Dakota Joshua Fit in the Leafs' Forward Group? Which line do you think Dakota Joshua should play on for Toronto? | ||
| First | 47 | 2.8 % |
| Second | 366 | 21.9 % |
| Third | 1102 | 66 % |
| Fourth | 155 | 9.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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