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Mystery Injury Sidelines Maple Leafs Forward Joshua
22 Sep
Summary
- Forward Dakota Joshua's status for the season opener is uncertain.
- Joshua was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks for a 2028 draft pick.
- He previously recovered from surgery for testicular cancer in November 2024.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing uncertainty regarding forward Dakota Joshua's readiness for the upcoming regular season due to an undisclosed injury. Head coach Jim Hiller confirmed that Joshua is currently in his return-to-play process but has not yet been cleared for full activity.
Hiller indicated that the issue is not recent and provided no specifics, stating, "he's just been dealing with something." The coach could not confirm if Joshua would be healthy enough for opening night, adding to the concern.
Joshua, who joined the Maple Leafs last summer from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round draft pick, played in 55 games during the 2025-26 season, contributing 10 goals and 8 assists. He was originally drafted by the Maple Leafs in 2014.
This is not the first time Joshua has faced health challenges. He previously missed the start of the 2024-25 season while recovering from surgery related to testicular cancer, returning to play in November 2024. He signed a four-year, $13 million extension with the Canucks in the summer of 2023.
