Dakota Joshua Bio
Dakota Joshua (born May 15, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 93 kilograms, he plays a physical, power-forward style that has become his trademark in the modern NHL. Selected 128th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL entry draft, Joshua has built his career through steady development at the junior, collegiate, and professional levels.
Before joining the Maple Leafs in a trade during the summer of 2025, Joshua spent time in the St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks organizations, where he developed into a reliable contributor in the bottom-six forward group. Known for his size, skating, and willingness to engage physically, he has carved out a role as an energy forward capable of producing offense in limited minutes.
Early Life and Background
Dakota Joshua was born on May 15, 1996, in Dearborn, Michigan. He grew up in a hockey-aware household, as his mother played ice hockey and competed in the Michigan Senior Women’s Hockey League. That early family connection to the sport helped shape his interest in the game and laid the foundation for a career in competitive hockey.
Joshua has a younger brother, Jagger, who is also an ice hockey player. Growing up in Michigan, Joshua developed his skills with the Honeybaked under-16 midget team, one of the more respected youth programs in the region. His performances at that level earned him an invitation to the USA Hockey select national team evaluation camp, signaling his potential as a prospect.
Path to Hockey
Following the 2011-12 season, Joshua was drafted by the Sioux Falls Stampede in the third round of the United States Hockey League (USHL) draft. After splitting the 2012-13 season between Honeybaked and the USHL, he was selected 156th overall by the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection. Despite being drafted into the OHL, Joshua chose to continue his development in the USHL for the 2013-14 season.
Joshua was ranked 157th overall among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau and was not invited to the NHL draft combine. He was eventually selected in the fifth round, 128th overall, in the 2014 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. After the selection, Maple Leafs amateur scouting director Dave Morrison praised Joshua as tall, athletic, and diligent in both ends of the game, projecting him as a potential top-nine forward.
Dakota Joshua Career
Early Career (2015-2019)
Joshua spent two full seasons with the Sioux Falls Stampede, helping the team capture the 2015 Clark Cup championship. His steady play and size made him a consistent contributor during that title run. Following his junior success, he enrolled at Ohio State University to continue his development at the collegiate level.
In his freshman season with the Buckeyes, Joshua recorded 17 points in 29 games and scored his first collegiate goal, which served as the game-winner during a shootout against the University of Michigan on January 15, 2016. The following season, he tallied 12 goals and 23 assists, earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten accolades. He was also recognized as an Ohio State Scholar-Athlete while majoring in the sports industry and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team.
St. Louis Blues Era (2019-2022)
On July 12, 2019, Joshua’s rights were traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for future considerations. After additional development time, he made his NHL debut on March 1, 2021, in a 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks, scoring a goal in the contest. Following the debut, Joshua described the experience as the biggest honor in the sport of hockey and said the day had exceeded every expectation he had.
He was briefly reassigned to the taxi squad but was recalled again on March 5, 2021. Joshua spent parts of multiple seasons within the Blues organization before becoming a free agent in the summer of 2022.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2022-2025)
As a free agent from the Blues, Joshua signed a two-year, $1.65 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 13, 2022. He quickly became a regular in the Canucks lineup, contributing physical play and secondary offense. On February 13, 2024, in a 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, Joshua recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick, assisting on both of Conor Garland’s goals before scoring and fighting MacKenzie Entwistle in the third period.
On June 27, 2024, after setting career highs in goals and assists with the Canucks, Joshua signed a four-year, $13 million contract extension to remain in Vancouver. During the summer of 2024, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which required surgery and forced him to miss training camp for the 2024-25 season. Joshua returned to play on November 14, 2024, in a 5-2 loss against the New York Islanders.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2025-Present)
On July 17, 2025, Joshua was traded by the Canucks to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round draft pick. The move reunited him with the organization that originally drafted him in 2014. He joined a Maple Leafs roster looking to add size, speed, and physicality to its forward group.
Joshua’s role with Toronto is expected to mirror the energy-forward identity he built in Vancouver. His combination of skating, shot volume, and physical play gives the Maple Leafs a different look in their bottom-six rotation.
Driving Style and Strengths
Joshua’s game is built around his size and skating ability. He uses his 6-foot-3 frame to win board battles, finish checks, and protect the puck along the walls. Defensively responsible and diligent in two ways of play, as scouts noted when he was drafted, Joshua has grown into a dependable contributor who can play up and down a lineup when called upon.
Notable Events and Milestones
Joshua’s career has featured several memorable moments, including a goal in his NHL debut on March 1, 2021, and a Gordie Howe hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks on February 13, 2024. His successful return from testicular cancer surgery in November 2024 stands as one of the most meaningful milestones of his career, reflecting both his resilience and the broader support he received across the hockey community.
Dakota Joshua Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in Dakota Joshua’s family. His mother played ice hockey and competed in the Michigan Senior Women’s Hockey League, providing him with an early understanding of the sport’s demands. His younger brother, Jagger, has also pursued a career in ice hockey, continuing the family’s connection to the game.
Personal Life
Joshua has been open about his cancer diagnosis and recovery, using his platform to raise awareness for testicular cancer. His return to the NHL in November 2024 was widely viewed as an inspiring moment, both within the Canucks organization and across the league.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been a period of transition for Dakota Joshua. After recovering from cancer and finishing the 2024-25 season with the Vancouver Canucks, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 17, 2025, in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round draft pick. The trade marked a full-circle moment, as Toronto was the team that originally selected him in the 2014 NHL entry draft.
Heading into the 2025-26 NHL season, Joshua is expected to slot into a bottom-six forward role with the Maple Leafs, bringing size, physicality, and forechecking energy. His track record of setting career highs in goals and assists with Vancouver suggests there is still untapped offensive upside to explore in Toronto’s system.
With a fresh start and a multi-year commitment from his new club, Joshua’s 2025 outlook centers on becoming a reliable two-way contributor and helping the Maple Leafs push deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.