The Vancouver Canucks are still trying to figure out which free agents on their roster they'll try to bring back for the 2024-25 season and one of those is forward Dakota Joshua.
Joshua blossomed this season into a full-time third-line player in the National Hockey League. He set new career highs in goals, assists and points during the regular season and during the playoffs, was exactly what the Canucks needed, as he was producing offensively and using his body and his size to his advantage.
Joshua can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st and as of Friday, it seems like that's a legit possibility given the Canucks' cap situation and the need to re-sign other free agents including Filip Hronek.
On Thursday's edition of Donnie and Dhali, Rick Dhaliwal said that the Canucks know what Dakota Joshua is seeking in terms of a cap hit, but they need to clear space to get there and one of the ways to do that would be by moving Ilya Mikheyev.
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Dhaliwal added that the Canucks want to keep Joshua and the 28-year-old wants to remain in Vancouver, so it's not a situation where neither side want to get a deal done.
"Joshua is still not signed. The Canucks are very well aware of Joshua's number; they just can't get there right now. Can they get there if they clear up cap space, like moving Mikheyev? That would help in re-signing Dakota Joshua. The Canucks want him, and the player wants to stay. It's not a situation where no one wants to get it done."
If Joshua does hit the free agent market at Noon ET on Canada Day, Dhaliwal says that there could be double-digit teams interested in him and among those are a pair of Original Six franchises - the Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs.
"There will be no shortage of teams on Joshua if he hits July 1. I'm hearing double-digit teams A couple of teams I heard going after Joshua are the Maple Leafs and the Blackhawks." Dhaliwal said.
Joshua, a native of Dearborn, Michigan, appeared in 63 games this season for the Canucks where he had 32 points (18 goals, 14 assists), 60 penalty minutes and was a plus-19. He went on to add eight points (four goals, four assists) in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
If Dakota Joshua does hit the open market on July 1st, which team would be a better fit - Chicago or Toronto? Let us know what you think in the poll below.
