8 teams that could be interested in trading for Canucks’ Dakota Joshua

The Vancouver Canucks have just $795,000 of available cap space remaining, with 13 forwards, seven defenceman and two goaltenders on the roster.

Would they prefer to have another centre in the mix, who could potentially push Filip Chytil down to 3C? Surely. But with what centre’s were out there on the free agent market, the Canucks circled back and re-signed Brock Boeser.

Now looking at the Canucks’ depth chart, they are rich on the wings. They have their top-six wingers figured out with Boeser, Jake DeBrusk, Evander Kane and Conor Garland. But it gets a little crowded with their bottom-six wingers, with Nils Höglander, Drew O’Connor, Kiefer Sherwood, Linus Karlsson, Arshdeep Bains, Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Dakota Joshua all fighting for six spots – not to mention Max Sasson, Aatu Räty and Nils Aman who will also be fighting for a spot on the wing if they can’t fit down the middle.

Of all the players listed above, only Lekkerimäki is waivers exempt, so the Canucks have a strong possibility of losing one if not more of these players. Is it likely that happens? No, but it could.

To avoid losing out on one of these wingers for nothing, the Canucks could look to trade one. In fact, there has already been reports about the Canucks shopping a pair of bottom-six players, Teddy Blueger and Dakota Joshua:

“They’re trying to move two guys right now: [Dakota] Joshua and [Teddy] Blueger,” Rick Dhaliwal said. “Can they move one of those two guys to free up the cap space to get a centreman now? I really am hearing the Canucks are souring on Dakota Joshua for some odd reason. His name’s out there.”

Joshua earned himself a four-year, $13 million extension holding a $3.25 million AAV with the Canucks after a career year. The big winger scored 18 goals and 32 points in 63 games in 2023-2024, but had a down 2024-2025 season. It is easy to forgive Joshua for last season after his cancer diagnosis in the offseason, which affected his offseason training and the start of the season.

However, it appears he might be a causality as the Canucks look toward fixing their hole down the middle of the ice. Joshua will have some control if he is moved, however, as he carries a 12-team no-trade clause.

But if he is moved, who would be interested in acquiring the Canucks’ Joshua?

Who might be interested in Joshua?

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks shouldn’t be turning around any NHL talent to help fix their roster. With over $22 million in cap space and only 11 NHL forwards on the roster, they have both the cap and roster space to fit in Joshua. Of course, the Blackhawks have young prospects vying to make the team, but Joshua would flirt with top-six minutes in Chicago if he were moved there.

Chicago was one of the teams expected to pursue Joshua last offseason, so we know their management group likes the player. But would Joshua welcome a move to Chicago, considering the team’s struggles over the past few years?

Colorado Avalanche

This would be a tight fit for the Avalanche, but they just scrape by with under $1 million in cap space if they were to add Joshua. Looking at the Avalanche’s roster, they are very top-heavy with Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Martin Necas, Artturi Lehkonen, Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin occupying their top-six. However, Ross Colton and Logan O’Connor (who is currently on the injured reserve list) are the only players on the roster who you could consider top-nine players.

Colorado moved on from Miles Wood this offseason, so they lack a lot of toughness out of their bottom-six now and could see Joshua as an asset worth trying to acquire to bolster their Stanley Cup-contending lineup.

Detroit Red Wings

A homecoming for Joshua! The Deadborn, Michigan, native would likely welcome a trade back to his home state.

Detroit has more of a crowded forward group, with youngsters Jonatan Berggren and Elmer Soderblom looking to earn full-time roster spots. The Red Wings signed veteran James van Riemsdyk this offseason, but acquiring a similar big-bodied player, who brings an added physical presence to a bottom-six that did not have a player with over 100 hits last season, would breathe some toughness into Detroit’s offence.

Minnesota Wild

There were quite a bit of rumours swirling about which roster player the Canucks offered along with the 15th overall pick to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Marco Rossi. That never came out, but with the reports of the Canucks shopping Joshua after having soured on him, along with the bigger-bodied profile player that GM Bill Guerin likes to build around, it was easy to speculate Joshua might have been a part of that package.

Joshua would fit the mould of a prototypical Guerin-type player that he likes to fill in his bottom-six. The 6’3″, 206-lb winger throws his body around and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves. Players like Marcus Foligno, Yakov Trenin, and formerly Nicolas Deslauriers fit a similar profile to Joshua’s, but the Canucks winger would provide more offensive upside.

If they don’t trade him, the Wild still have Rossi to sign. But with over $10 million of cap space, the Wild could make it work to retain Rossi and fit Joshua in under the salary cap.

Nashville Predators

The Predators are in a world of hurt in their forward core. With just over $10 million of available cap space, Nashville has eight NHL regular forwards under contract, with RFA Luke Evangelista still to sign. That leaves three spots open for the Predators to fill, hoping that three youngsters, Matthew Wood, Fyodor Svechkov and Zachary L’Heureux, can make the jump to the NHL.

It’s unlikely that all three will be ready to make the jump, so Joshua could make sense in Nashville.

After letting Kiefer Sherwood walk last summer and trading Jeremy Lauzon this summer, the Predators don’t have a lot of big hitters on their roster. Joshua could fill the physicality void left on the roster.

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks are similar to the Blackhawks in that they should be looking for more NHL-ready players right now to help the youth grow. Speaking of the youth on the roster, which player on their team right now is going to stick up for their teammates when Macklin Celebrini or Will Smith get roughed up? Barclay Goodrow? Vincent Desharnais (if he’s in the lineup)?

Not only could Joshua stick up for young stars on the team, but he could likely slide into the Sharks’ top-six as an offensive contributor. Outside of Celebrini, Smith, William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli, Joshua would probably slide in as their next best forward. One that would still leave them with over $20 million in cap space if they acquired his $3.25 million.

Utah Mammoth

The Mammoth have been busy this offseason and haven’t been afraid to make big moves. Utah has already addressed some of its criticisms about being too small by re-signing 6’4″ Jack McBain, but also Brandon Tanev, who can provide that physical edge. But do they want more?

Lawson Crouse is a big body, but doesn’t rough it up as much as you’d hope for a 6’4″ winger, who averages only 24 points per season. His name has been mentioned in trade rumours lately; if he is moved, Joshua could be a more productive replacement, earning less than Crouse.

Utah’s forward group is a little crowded, but we like the fit for Joshua with the Mammoth.

Winnipeg Jets

Now the Jets might be our favourite fit for Joshua. Winnipeg still have some work to do, with RFAs Gabe Vilardi and Dylan Samberg still to sign. But with just under $20 million of cap space, the Jets have plenty of money to work with to get them done, and add Joshua if they see fit.

Joshua won’t be a Nikolaj Ehlers replacement, but he could be a Brandon Tanev replacement, who they brought in at the trade deadline to beef up their bottom-six. Joshua would likely fill in a similar role, sliding in alongside captain Adam Lowry to create a dangerous physical duo in Winnipeg.

Honourable Mention

Toronto Maple Leafs

We wanted to include them as a landing spot, as they were rumoured to be one of the teams heavily interested in signing him had he hit free agency. They have the necessary cap ($4.98 million) to take on Joshua’s full $3.25 million cap hit. However, they don’t really have the roster spot to fit him in.

The Maple Leafs have Max Domi, David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok, Scott Laughton, Ryan Reaves, Steven Lorentz, and Michael Pezetta already in their bottom-six, with RFA Nicolas Robertson still to sign – not to mention any of their young prospects who’re ready to make the jump.

There are rumours that the Leafs are trying to move out some of those players because they just have too many. So, we’ll circle back on Toronto as a potential Joshua destination once a roster spot clears up for him.

What do you think, Canucks fans? If Joshua is moved, where do you see as the best possible fit for him?