'Looking Forward To Playing A Long Time Here Like (Phil) Kessel': Why Dakota Joshua Will Wear No. 81 With Maple Leafs This Season

When Dakota Joshua puts on a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey for the first time, he'll be wearing a number that many fans are familiar with.

Eleven years after being taken by the Maple Leafs in the fifth round (128th overall) in 2014, Joshua is back in the blue and white. The 29-year-old arrived in Toronto this week after being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round pick.

Five years after being drafted by the Maple Leafs, Joshua was traded to the St. Louis Blues for future considerations. The power forward had just finished up his fourth season at Ohio State University, where he scored nine goals and 13 assists in 32 games.

"Being drafted by the Leafs was very special, a big moment in my career. It didn’t work out, a mix of not being the right fit and a better opportunity with the Blues," Joshua told The Toronto Sun on Tuesday. "But I had fun at Toronto’s camps and coming here (the Ford Performance Centre) today, it was a little familiar to me."

He also confirmed with The Sun that he'd be wearing number 81 with the Maple Leafs, last donned by Phil Kessel from 2009 to 2015. (Mac Hollowell wore it for six games in 2022-23.) Joshua wore 81 with the Canucks, though he and Kessel have a similar story with having to battle testicular cancer during their hockey careers.

Joshua missed the beginning of last season after being diagnosed with the disease. He underwent surgery in September and made his season debut against the New York Islanders on November 14. Kessel was diagnosed with testicular cancer in December 2006, at 19 years old. He, too, caught it early enough that he was able to have surgery and make a full recovery.

"I love the mojo there," Joshua told the Sun on Tuesday when confirming what number he'd wear. "I knew his story and looking forward to playing a long time here like Kessel did."

Kessel played five seasons with the Maple Leafs, scoring 394 points (181 goals and 213 assists) in 446 games. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in July 2015, winning two Stanley Cups with them in 2016 and 2017, before doing the same with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.

According to The Sun's Lance Hornby, Joshua met with Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, the team's training and equipment staff, and a few current players who are training in Toronto.

"Today was moreso an introduction, getting back in the building and Brad telling me to have a good summer so I can hit the ground running in a couple of months," Joshua said.

The 6-foot-3, 206-pound forward will likely enter Toronto's training camp in a depth role, on the third or fourth line. After being dealt a difficult hand last summer, the Maple Leafs are hoping he'll return to his previous production after his 14 points (seven goals and seven assists) in 56 games last season.

Joshua had 18 goals and 14 assists in 63 games during the 2023-24 season.

But he plays with his heart on his sleeve, which is everything Maple Leafs fans want from a player. Two seasons ago, Joshua was in the league's top 10 for hits (244), right behind Toronto defenseman Simon Benoit. The forward also scored four goals and four assists in 13 playoff games with the Canucks later that year.

Joshua will bring a heavy look to Toronto's bottom six, no doubt. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube will be familiar with that aspect of his game, given they spent time together in St. Louis. The points, though, will be what the Maple Leafs hope for after making the trade earlier this summer.

"For sure, that’s my game,"  Joshua said. "It’s chip in offensively, play an up-and-down style. (Fighting) is part of the job. I can’t wait until we get started."