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If the Toronto Maple Leafs want to add a solid bottom-six replacement for David Kampf, they should look at Dakota Joshua who may be on the outs per Elliotte Friedman.
Though the Maple Leafs could benefit from dealing at least two of them, if anyone were to go it’ll be Kampf, but that means Toronto needs to try and find a way to replace him.
Dakota Joshua up for sale: Friedman
There are some smaller pieces available on the open market, it’s more likely the team is going to pursue a forward via the trade block for a reliable and steady improvement over Kampf, and who fits in better with the system.
I don’t think the Canucks are done tinkering with this yet.
Vancouver already acquired Evander Kane this off-season, and they re-signed fan favorite superstar Brock Boeser, so if they were looking to add some scoring or a different face; Dakota Joshua could be expendable.
Why Dakota Joshua fits with the Maple Leafs
Joshua, 29, has spent the last three seasons with the Canucks, registering 69 points in 199 games (36 goals, 33 assists) but has a blistering 660 hits in that span.
He loves to hit and hit a lot, and considering his familiarity with Craig Berube; who loves to have players be ultra-physical, it seems like the perfect match.
Joshua offers more offensive upside than Kampf, very good faceoff numbers (53% for his career) and is just as capable a penalty killer.
The one caveat though is he’s owed $3.25-million for the next three seasons, and that’s a lot of money to commit to a fourth liner; basically a Kampf repeat.
But he adds a ton of physicality and more offensive potential than Kampf would, and has familiarity with the head coach.
So it might just be worth that price tag after all.
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Maple Leafs Must Reunite $13 Million Forward with Craig Berube to Replace David Kampf
Should Toronto try and bring in Dakota Joshua to replace David Kampf?