‘I need more out of myself’: Leafs’ Dakota Joshua responds to wholesome scratch

WASHINGTON, D.C. — There is not any extra sugarcoating it.

The glass-half-full information right here is that — on the heels of the facility ahead’s first and long-anticipated wholesome scratch — nobody is pretending in any other case.

Head coach Craig Berube waited 22 video games earlier than benching the bottom-six checker whom GM Brad Treliving scooped up this summer time from the Canucks.

At first blush, the acquisition felt like a low-cost, low-risk flyer.

An 18-goal, 32-point, hard-checking, defensively accountable forechecker? A fan favorite of any Vancouverite who tuned in for the 2024 playoffs? For the low, low value of a 2028 fourth-rounder?

Six weeks into the participant’s proposed redemption marketing campaign, nevertheless, the Maple Leafs’ plans of setting up an every-night shutdown line round Joshua and centre Nicolas Roy nonetheless look shaky at finest. 

Joshua had mustered simply two objectives and three assists to go along with his minus-8 ranking and had gone eight video games with out a level. He did not a lot as register a shot in 5 of these and had slipped to the fourth line.

Though removed from detrimental, Joshua’s shifts have been too quiet. Inconsequential. His bodily presence has both been overhyped or is about to indicate up late to the social gathering.

Hardly an important return on a $3.25-million-a-year funding who’s beneath contract via 2027-28.

“We need more out of you. And I agree with him. And I have no arguments with that. I need more out of myself, and so does the team,” Joshua advised Sportsnet Thursday, following a Thanksgiving Day follow within the U.S. capital. “Got to be higher. 

“Everybody’s smart in here and gets the sense of how you’re playing. So, I totally understand it hasn’t gone well for me this year. But there’s a lot of hockey left to turn it around, and that’s what I plan on doing.”

Joshua’s particular person story this season isn’t in contrast to his crew’s: More was anticipated by way of secondary offence, toughness, and velocity.

Joshua was ushered in as a DNA changer. He was imagined to characterize a extra steeled Leafs identification.

The hope from the teaching employees — which can tweak a successful lineup and throw Joshua again into motion Friday towards the Washington Capitals — is that he takes this wakeup name to coronary heart.

“I just felt like he needed to get a reset, and sometimes that puts a little more fire in ’em, too,” Berube stated.

These selections aren’t made frivolously. 

Typically, veterans and new faces get further leeway earlier than being banished to the press field.

Healthy scratches this early into a protracted tenure can embarrass not solely a participant however the government who introduced him in.

But with the Leafs caught on the unhappy aspect of the wild-card line, Berube wants the six-foot-three, 218-pound Joshua to search out his identification. 

“He’s a big guy that has to be a physical, hard player to play against. And he’s going to make and score his goals around the net, right? So, I think just a little more puck touches in the offensive zone from the forecheck, and then getting to the net front and winning those battles there and tipping pucks,” Berube defined.

“He’s acquired good hand-eye, and he has the aptitude of placing the puck within the web. That’s the place I see that his recreation can enhance. But it’s about getting there. So, from our zone out, anticipating and being direct. Not solely him, however his linemates placing him in a great spot to get on the forecheck or no matter.”

Be a nuisance to the opposition.

“Make it hard,” Berube challenged. “They don’t want to box him out. He’s a big guy. So, I think he can just be more engaged that way.”

A self-confessed sluggish starter, Joshua agrees there may be one other degree he can attain.

“Just chipping in to control the game more with my linemates,” he stated. “Being more connected out there and taking it upon myself to be a guy who drives the play down low and just makes it tougher on the other team.”

OK, so who’s popping out?

William Nylander, who has missed three video games this season to damage, missed Thursday’s follow within the title of “maintenance.”

Wednesday’s time beyond regulation hero was strolling across the rink and appeared in good spirits, interacting with teammates earlier than assembly his previous pal Rasmus Sandin for dinner in D.C.

Berube assures Nylander will probably be good to go.

So, who does Joshua exchange?

At follow, Domi and Maccelli (additionally scratched Wednesday) took turns skating in Nylander’s spot beside John Tavares on the second line and on Toronto’s new-look five-forward power-play.

Both shifty playmakers have struggled these days.

But Domi has by no means been healthy-scratched as a Maple Leaf, regardless of his team-worst minus-13 rating.

“I don’t know if it’s the defensive side of things. I think positionally he’s been solid,” Berube stated of Domi. “I do know his plus/minus doesn’t say that, however I wouldn’t say positionally that causes a number of (objectives towards) for me. 

“It’s simply getting engaged extra within the recreation. Like, he’s acquired to get soiled down low within the offensive zone, win battles, and get extra engaged that method. And get to the within of the ice extra. That’s what I see. And when he’s skating and transferring, he’s an efficient participant.

“But it’s too inconsistent.”

One-Timers: Defenceman Brandon Carlo was a full participant in follow for the primary time since getting injured Nov. 13…. The stitches you seen on Berube’s brow are as a result of a minor, routine process the coach underwent this week to get one thing faraway from beneath the pores and skin. Nothing severe. “Just so you know, I did it without any freezing or anything,” Berube boasts….  The slow-starting Capitals have gained 5 of their previous six video games…. Berube on Dakota Mermis’s first-period roughing penalty on Zach Aston-Resse, which he disputed in actual time: “I thought it was a terrible call. First of all, I know you can’t rip a guy’s helmet off. But that wasn’t intentional. They’re going at it, and (Mermis) got punched twice in the head already. I get it. You want to even it up. That’s fine. But then he’s pulling the guy down, and his helmet comes off. I mean, it’s an accidental play. Just, it was a tough call.”

Maple Leafs follow strains Thursday in D.C.

Knies – Matthews – Robertson
Domi/Maccelli – Tavares – Cowan
Joshua – Roy – McMann
Lorentz – Laughton – Järnkrok 

Rielly – Ekman-Larsson 
Benoit – McCabe 
Mermis – Stecher 
Myers – Carlo