Dakota Joshua Very Candid as He Addresses Subpar Start with the Maple Leafs

While the Toronto Maple Leafs are finally showing positive results in the standings, not every player has lived up to expectations, and one of the more concerning cases is the newly-acquired Dakota Joshua.

Brought in this past offseason, Joshua reunited with head coach Craig Berube, who previously coached him during their time in St. Louis. Berube clearly valued what Joshua brought to the Blues, a mix of grit, speed, and scoring touch that fits perfectly in a hard-nosed lineup.

But five games into the season, Joshua has recorded just one assist and hasn't made much of an impact offensively. To the average viewer, Joshua, for most of the season, has gone relatively unnoticed.

Joshua admitted as much ahead of Toronto's matchup against the Seattle Kraken, acknowledging that his start hasn't been good enough. While his physical play has been strong, tallying 10 hits already, the Maple Leafs need more than just toughness from him.

If Joshua can rediscover his scoring touch, he could still become a key piece of Toronto's bottom six. His fit into Berube's system, along with his familiarity with the head coach, gives him a good shot to do so.

But, if the struggles continue, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Leafs explore trade options or include him in a package for a top-six forward, a role this team clearly needs filled to push them over the top before their championship window narrows any further.