Canucks’ Dakota Joshua set to make season debut against Islanders – Hockey Writers – Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks will have a familiar face on tonight’s roster as they welcome former captain Bo Horvat and the New York Islanders. Dakota Joshua will be making his first start of the season after missing the first 14 games due to surgery to remove testicular cancer. He was one of their best players last season playing on a line with Conor Garland and Teddy Blueger and will be a welcome addition to a roster that is missing its leading scorer in Brock Boeser. He may be burdened in this game playing on the fourth line with Nils Hoglander and Aatu Raty, but just having his big body and physicality (even if he doesn’t throw his weight around like he did during the season) will make a difference in the bottom six.

Related: Proposed Roster for Canucks vs Islanders – 11/14/24

“By making sure you’re ready.”

🗣 Dakota Joshua meets the media following Thursday’s morning skate.#Councillors | @province pic.twitter.com/UTRu2VVlOx

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 14, 2024

Joshua had a career-high 18 goals in 2023-24 and was arguably the Canucks’ emotional leader all season. He consolidates the team’s identity and could be the second wave of physicality that has already been given to the new acquisition of Kiefer Sherwood. Although they won’t be playing on the same line in this game, it would be fun to see that in the future. I wouldn’t want to be on the ice with those two wrecking balls, that’s for sure.

“It’s like making a big trade. He’s a big kid with good hands.”

– Rick Tocchet on Joshua’s return to the lineup

With Joshua’s return, the Canucks only called up Raty and Jonathan Lekkerimaki from the American Hockey League (AHL) and left Arshdeep Bains in Abbotsford. They will only have a healthy Noah Juulsen and Boeser (upper body), Derek Forbort (lower), and Thatcher Demko (lower) still out injured. Lekkerimaki will be playing in his second NHL game after his debut against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, and will still be on a line with JT Miller and Pius Suter.