Yahoo Sports Canucks Dakota Joshua Will Make Season Debut Against The New York Islanders
It's official: Dakota Joshua is back! As confirmed by Head Coach Rick Tocchet, the Vancouver Canucks Unsung Hero from 2023-24 will make his season debut tonight against the New York Islanders. Joshua has been out of the lineup since Training Camp as he has been recovering from offseason surgery to remove a cancerous tumour.
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Based on line rushes at morning skate, Joshua will start on the fourth line with Aatu Räty and Nils Höglander. With Joshua having not played a game in close to six months, the plan for his return could include limited minutes during his season debut. Last season, Joshua averaged 14:23 of ice time and was featured on both the Canucks penalty kill and power play.
“It’s like making a major trade. He’s a big kid with good hands.”
-Rick Tocchet on Dakota Joshua returning to the lineup tonight pic.twitter.com/fv1wFJS8cf— Canucks Insider (@CanucksInsider) November 14, 2024
Even if Joshua's minutes are limited, he should have an impact on tonight's game. One of the most physical players in the league, he finished the 2023-24 regular season with 245 hits while adding 74 in 13 playoff games. Joshua is also a handful in front of the net, finishing the regular season with 13 high-danger goals, according to NHL EDGE.
The big question moving forward is how long Tocchet will wait before putting Joshua back with Conor Garland. Last season, the duo played 542:52 together at five-on-five, with Vancouver outscoring their opposition 30-13 when they were on the ice. With Garland showing great chemistry beside Elias Pettersson, moving Joshua up the lineup and beside his old linemate could be an option Tocchet looks at in the near future.
Fans can watch Joshua's season debut on Thursday night when the Canucks take on the Islanders. Tonight's game will also be a special night for Räty, who will be playing against his former team for the first time since being traded to Vancouver as part of the Bo Horvat trade. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT from Rogers Arena.
