The Maple Leafs may already have a path to the cap space they need, and it could come through Dakota Joshua.
With Toronto battling a wave of injuries, the lineup is starting to get some help back. Chris Tanev has been upgraded to day-to-day and could return this weekend, while Joshua has just been recalled from the Marlies. But the real question is whether that recall ends up being temporary.
David Pagnotta said on Off the Roster that Toronto could be exploring a move that would send Joshua elsewhere and create room both now and down the road.
"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, has not played this season because of a core injury that has kept him out since the preseason. He also had a tough time staying on the ice last year after suffering a lacerated kidney in a game against Detroit, an injury that cost him 19 games.
Toronto acquired Joshua in the summer of 2025 from the Canucks, even though the Maple Leafs originally drafted him in 2017 before sending him to the St. Louis Blues for future considerations. That deal still has not been finalized.
The appeal was obvious at the time. Joshua was familiar with Craig Berube and brought the kind of rugged game Berube likes. But with Jim Hiller now behind the bench and a bottom-six group that seems to have a more defined purpose, Joshua no longer looks like a natural fit.
There is still the simple reality of what he offers if another team wants to bet on him. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Joshua brings size, physicality and a net-front presence that can help a bottom six. He also makes $3.25 million this season and again in 2027-28, which makes him a manageable swing for a contender looking for toughness and a little scoring help.
Potential landing spots mentioned for Joshua include the Winnipeg Jets, Utah Mammoth, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Ottawa Senators. Each could use more size, grit and protection without taking on a major financial burden or giving up much in assets.
Whether Toronto actually finds a deal is another matter. But if the Maple Leafs decide space matters more than Joshua’s upside, his stint in Toronto could end before it really gets going.
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