Leafs' Dakota Joshua Opens Up About Heartbreaking Diagnosis From the 2024-25 Season
Photo credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin - Imagn Images
Newly acquired Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua has opened up about his medical scare from 2024-25 after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The Toronto Maple Leafs made several solid depth additions this summer, including the acquisition of rugged power forward Dakota Joshua from the Vancouver Canucks.
The Michigan native enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2023-24 after he scored 18 goals and 32 points in 63 regular season games, before adding an additional 8 points in 13 post-season games. He earned a 4-year contract shortly thereafter for his efforts.
Unfortunately, right before the start of the 2024-25 season, Joshua announced that he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. He was able to make a speedy recovery and wound up making 57 appearances last season, where he scored 14 points and adding 193 hits, despite some hiccups along the way.
Joshua sat down with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on 'Leafs Morning Take' this week and discussed the situation that he went through. He explained how tough it was and how it essentially prevented him back from following through on his great 2023-24 campaign.
"That was tough to go through. I was getting ready for training camp, had a good summer behind me. To go through that after signing a new deal was tough... it was tough to go through. Having to miss training camp and being behind the 8-ball from the start didn't do me well. I was playing catch up the whole season."
Joshua didn't make his season debut until November and suited up in 57 of the Canucks' final 68 games. It was tough sledding to start, but he looked to be rounding into form by the end of the season with 6 points and 38 hits in his final 13 games.
With the ordeal now behind him, Joshua is ready to prove his worth again.
He will do so while reuniting with Craig Berube, which is something that excites the 29-year-old, as he credits his former bench boss for giving him his first opportunity at the NHL-level.
Now as a more seasoned forward, look for Joshua to take advantage of the opportunities that lay ahead in Toronto. His physicality, imposing nature, and secondary scoring should do wonders for a Leafs team that is looking to rebrand itself as a more blue collar club in 2025-26.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 30 | 655 ANSWERS Leafs' Dakota Joshua Opens Up About Heartbreaking Diagnosis From the 2024-25 Season How many points will Dakota Joshua net in 2025-26? | ||
| 25-30 | 230 | 35.1 % |
| 31-35 | 219 | 33.4 % |
| 36-40 | 148 | 22.6 % |
| More than 40 | 58 | 8.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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