Tocchet praises Dakota Joshua's impact on return from injury

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Cooper Godin
April 1, 2024 (1:36 PM)

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While it's only been two games since his return from injury, Dakota Joshua has made an immediate impact on the Canucks lineup and has caught the eye of his head coach, Rick Tocchet.

On Sunday afternoon against the Ducks, Joshua scored a pair of goals in the 3-2 win. The first was a beautiful between-the-leg tally and the second was the game-winner with nearly two minutes remaining in the third period.

After the game, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was asked about Dakota Joshua's performance and he highlighted how hard he's worked to get back into the lineup after suffering a hand injury and that in the last couple of games, he's given the team exactly what they're looking for.

"How hard he's worked these six weeks. Not missing a beat...That goal was pretty special. That was beautiful that first goalThe last two games, he's giving us what we need." Tocchet said.

Joshua, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, is having the best year of his National Hockey League career so far, putting up 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 55 games. He missed six weeks of action after suffering a hand injury during a fight in February with Chicago Blackhawks forward MacKenzie Entwistle.

The Dearborn, Michigan native is one of a handful of players on the Canucks roster that are having a breakout season and taking their game to the next level. It's going to be interesting to see what Joshua does for the Canucks in the playoffs and if he'll earn himself a new contract with the organization this summer.