I’m a Wings fan but I’ve started following Vancouver because Dakota Joshua grew up close to my hometown and after being drafted a decade ago he came out of nowhere from the minors a couple seasons back
He doesn’t get nearly enough recognition here because this is definitely a football-first region but there’s also a ton of talent coming out of the US Development Team and local AAA clubs
I’m a big fan of his play style and obviously have a lot of bias when talking about him with my NHL fan friends in Detroit
Just wanted to get a more dedicated fan perspective on him, how he plays, and your thoughts on his future in Vancouver
Appreciate it!
by BuffaloWing12
36 Comments
Plugger
We love him, he takes the occasional bone headed penalty, but he makes up for that with his physicality, board work, his smart defensive prowess on the PK, even strength, and when the oppositions has pulled their net
This year he’s developed his scoring touch (granted he’s always had some decent hands) playing with Conor garland and teddy bluegar. Sadly I do think he’s pricing himself out as he is a UFA this off-season.
More than we ever thought he’d contribute, he’s been great with Garland and Blueger.
He’s been insanely good this year. Fast, physical and good finishing. He’s actually been too good so there’s no way we’ll be able to afford him
Tocchet seems to have seen potential in him right away and Joshua has really thrived under his coaching style. It’s been great to see. He plays hard, simple, and has flashes of some skill. An awesome 3rd liner.
Workhorse, puts in effort into every shift, impactful, noticeable, un-sung hero, buys into system, developed well as a canuck, playing above his current contract value, we will miss him and what he brings to the team if canucks can’t afford to resign him next season.
I definitely will continue cheering for his success wherever he plays.
Stud
The perfect trade deadline acquisition that we don’t have to trade for.
He is getting PAID by some team next year.
Excited to see him in the new madame web movie
Dakota Joshua was a really good pro-scouting/free agency move from Vancouver.
As a 5th round pick, with pretty meh college numbers, who went to the ECHL, then played like 70 AHL games between 3 different teams and got a cup of coffee at the NHL… I don’t think he was on *anyones* radar.
**But** he was also a player who turned pro during the pandemic. So he was sort of bouncing all over the ECHL/AHL when he went pro and spent time on taxi squads.
And one of those places was Utica, and at the time Van/STL were sharing Utica for their farm team. The Utica GM, Ryan Johnson is currently the Abbotsford GM/Advisor to Canucks GM and played a big role in bringing Joshua to Vancouver.
He’s big/strong, skates fast, forechecks well, and has done a really good job being the “bull in a china shop” on his line.
There’s a sense that he is going to price himself out of Vancouver as a free agent. After finding a diamond in the rough, and polishing that diamond up.. it would be a shame to lose him.
It’s going to hurt losing him in free agency, but someone is going to overpay for him, and we won’t be able to keep him.
Joshua is the perfect example of someone who worked his way out of Tocchett’s dog house. He bought into the system and it paid off.
Love him so much. As a player, we are paying him pennies compared to what he is worth and bringing to the team.
But personally, i love him because when i went to the Victoria training camp before this season, when he got off the ice after practice, he spent like 15mins signing every single persons merch before heading to the locker room. Then when I went to the back doors where the players would get on buses, he went to every person and signed something. He came out right after the first bus left and put his stuff down and told everyone he was gonna sign something for us. No joke, he spent maybe 45mins signing stuff for probably over 50ppl. He was the only person who this.
Hardworking and tenacious player. Both him and his line with Blueger and Garland.
Before the season started I thought he’d be bouncing down to the minors and back a few times. But man, he earned a spot and then some. Super impressed with what he brings every game. He’s the exact kind of player you want at least one of in the bottom 6.
Hes an absolute beast, next question.
Thick. Solid. Tight.
He arguably offers the most value per contract on the team, other than maybe his occasional line mate Hoglander.
Definitely need a guy like him on your team, a hard-worker who isn’t afraid to play his size.
I loved his annoyance at the refs when he fought Radek Simek of the Sharks last season:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=1FQQikq-cANIH5Al&v=0KI4qnmJZS4&feature=youtu.be
Reminds me of Dwight King on those cup winning kings teams.
Love him, want to put his name numbers on a blank tarp
Him and his linemates are having a good year. One of the best energy lines this year.
Gonna miss him so much man
Yeah, he’s lovely. Thanks.
I’m hoping he realizes that the results are the sum him playing with Teddy and Garly. I’m not sure he’s as good as he is playing with pylons.
He’s been great! Big, fast, some bite to his game and a little finish as well. We gotta prepare ourselves to lose a lot of good players this summer, including this guy!
I like him a lot. Chances are, though, that he will price himself out of this market and be replaced with Podkolzin, who I also like.
He’s the guy who Tocc ALWAYS puts out in the last minutes of the 3rd, when the opposing goalie is pulled. It’s clear why. He blocks fearlessly, hits and can win board battles, has decent hands and a lot of energy. Really hoping he stays next year but I know he will probably get overpaid somewhere else.
He’s developed into a fan favorite, No Name Line babyyy
DAWG
Great question. I’m thinking he’s a late blooming stud. Hits, wins draws, can make plays. I’d like to see the Canucks keep and promote him up the lineup but I’d understand if he’s priced himself out of their plans
Developing well under Toc, hopefully for him and us he sticks around. This is a good situation for him to extend at reasonable term and value.
Love Dakota Joshua.
Go Canucks, go Red Wings. I have loved this season for both teams.
Would love to see an extension asap.
I’ve been very impressed with his mitts this year. He’s the kind of player I love to watch. Determined as all hell