Maple Leafs Being Cautious After Concerning Dakota Joshua Injury Update

The Toronto Maple Leafs are dealing with another concerning injury, and this one carries some uncertainty that the organization will have to approach with caution. Forward Dakota Joshua remains in Detroit after suffering a kidney injury that included internal bleeding during Sunday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Red Wings.

As per several sources, including Elliotte Friedman, head coach Craig Berube confirmed the injury stemmed from either a hit or contact with the boards, adding bluntly, “It’s got blood and everything, so we’ve got to see where he’s at.”

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Joshua will not play Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils as the team continues to monitor his condition. Given the nature of the injury, no timeline has been provided for his return.

Injuries for the Maple Leafs Adding Up

The situation is particularly concering considering Joshua’s recent health history. Just months ago, he underwent evaluation for testicular cancer, missing training camp before returning to NHL action in November.

Since joining Toronto, Joshua has had ups and downs, but has been trying to secure a consistent role in the bottom six. He’d posted six goals and four assists in 36 games before his injury. The Maple Leafs brought him in hoping he could provide some depth scoring while offering a physical component to their offense.

In addition to Joshua’s absence, the Leafs will also be without defenseman Chris Tanev, who is dealing with a lower-body injury unrelated to any previous issues and could miss additional time. Auston Matthews remains a game-time decision with a lower-body injury, while William Nylander continues to be listed as day-to-day. He will not be in the lineup for the Leafs on Tuesday. “Doing better but it’s still day-to-day,” said Berube.

To help manage the mounting injuries, Toronto recalled defenseman Matt Benning and forward Jacob Quillan from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

More clarity on Joshua’s condition is expected in the coming days.

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