Maple Leafs’ Dakota Joshua needed ‘reset’ by being benched

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When Craig Berube didn’t see enough of Dakota Joshua in the right places, he made the winger disappear from Wednesday’s lineup.

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The coach expects that his benching – Joshua could only watch as the Maple Leafs rallied for an emotional 2-1 overtime win in Columbus – will help get the winger pointed the right way Friday in Washington.

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After giving the media in D.C. a list of areas where Joshua can improve, Berube said he’s back in and expects a turnaround from the usually aggressive forward who was a splashy summer acquisition by general manager Brad Treliving in a quest for added grit.

“Getting to his identity,” Berube urged, mindful that the 2023-24 version of Joshua had a career-best 32 points in Vancouver and was a plus-19 with 60 penalty minutes and eight playoff points.

“He has to be a physical, hard player to play against. He’s going to make and score his goals around the net, (so he needs) a little more puck touches in the offensive zone from the forecheck, getting to the net front, winning those battles and tipping pucks.”

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Benching coincides with pointless streak

Joshua’s two goals came in consecutive games more than a month ago and he was without a point since Nov. 5 before Berube finally sat him and fellow newcomer Matias Maccelli Wednesday to make way for the return of Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy.

“He’s got good hand-eye (co-ordination), he has that capability to put it in the net,” the coach added. “But it’s about getting there. From our zone out, anticipating and being direct. Not just him, but his linemates (Roy and Bobby McMann, going by the latest practice lines) to put him in a good spot to get on the forecheck.

“Get to the net and disrupt, make it hard on the other team. They don’t want to box him out, he’s a big guy (6-foot-3, 218 pounds). I think he can get more engaged that way.”

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Berube finds no fault in the 29-year-old Michigan native’s overall effort and Joshua once again told reporters Thursday that this start has been frustrating for him in light of the recent team struggles and the great expectations when he was acquired. Judging they were getting diminishing returns for a contract that had three years to run at $3.25 million US, Vancouver parted with Joshua for a fourth-round pick.

The Leafs had one win in eight games and were last in the conference before Wednesday’s win.

“I felt he needed a reset and sometimes that puts a little fire in (healthy scratches),” Berube said. “ It’s part of it all. That’s my job, but it’s tough on a player.”

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Coach told Joshua team needs ‘more out of you’

Defenceman Dakota Mermis, far down the list of most recognized Leafs, has one less goal than Joshua and jumped in to fight Montreal’s heavy hitter Florian Xhekaj a week ago.

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“(Berube) said, ‘We need more out of you,’ and I agree,” Joshua said. “No argument about that. I need more out of myself and so does the team. I have to be better.

“There’s a lot of hockey left to turn it around and that’s what I plan on doing. Chip it in to control the game more with my linemates and be more connected out there. Taking it upon myself as a guy who drives the play down low and makes it tougher on the other team.”

William Nylander, the overtime hero on Wednesday, was granted the practice off, but will face the Caps. The Leafs play again Saturday in Pittsburgh, so anyone parked Friday could end up playing the Penguins, led by Dennis Hildeby after Joseph Woll faced 36 shots in Columbus.

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby

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