Leafs get a scary injury update on Dakota Joshua

It feels like every time Dakota Joshua starts to build some momentum, something pulls the rug out from under him. The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up for what they hope will be a redemptive 2026-27 campaign after a brutal season that saw them miss the playoffs entirely, but they may already be short a body before the puck even drops.

New head coach Jim Hiller addressed reporters on Monday and delivered some unwelcome news about the 30-year-old winger. Joshua is dealing with an unspecified injury, and Hiller offered zero clarity on whether the forward would be available for Opening Night against the Montreal Canadiens on September 29th. To make matters even more curious, Joshua was spotted skating with the AHL Marlies group rather than the big club, which has only fueled speculation about the severity of the situation.

A troubling pattern that won't quit

The frustrating part here is just how familiar this story has become for Joshua. Over the past few seasons, the man has endured an absolutely brutal stretch of health-related setbacks. He missed significant time during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns for various reasons, including lower-body injuries and a testicular cancer diagnosis that required surgery. Then last season with the Leafs, he suffered a lacerated kidney in a game against the Detroit Red Wings that kept him sidelined for roughly two months between late December and late February. And just when it seemed like he was back on track, an upper-body injury shut him down a week before the end of the 2025-26 season.

When he's actually been able to stay in the lineup, Joshua has shown he belongs. He led the Maple Leafs with 195 hits last season, continuing a trend that saw him top the Vancouver Canucks in that category for three straight years. He also carries a career shooting percentage of 16.7%, which has helped him consistently flirt with double-digit goal totals. In 55 games last year, he put up 10 goals and 8 assists. The talent and the physicality are clearly there. It's just a matter of staying healthy long enough to show it.

What this means for the Leafs' roster puzzle

Joshua had been penciled in on Toronto's fourth line at left wing alongside center Teddy Blueger and right winger Brandon Duhaime heading into camp. If he can't go for the opener, it opens the door for a handful of players to stake their claim to that spot. Steven Lorentz would likely be the frontrunner given his 18-point, 71-game showing last season and his years of NHL experience. Other names in the mix include Zack MacEwen, Jacob Quillan, Brendan Brisson, and Bo Groulx.

There's also a cap angle to consider. Joshua carries a $3.25 million cap hit, and the Leafs are operating tight against the ceiling. If his injury turns out to be more serious and lands him on LTIR, that entire number comes off the books temporarily. Even if he's just sent to the Marlies on a conditioning stint, the team could shed about $1.2 million from his hit. New GM John Chayka loaded up on bottom-six depth this offseason, bringing in Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Blueger, and Duhaime, so the roster is well-stocked even without Joshua.

The Leafs are entering a pivotal year with a new coaching staff and a revamped roster that includes two-time Stanley Cup champion Sergei Bobrovsky in net. They're desperate to turn the page after last year's disaster, and they'll be hoping Joshua's latest setback is minor. But given his injury history, nobody in Toronto is holding their breath just yet. We'll likely get more answers as the team trims its training camp roster in the coming days.