The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t use all their salary cap space right as NHL free agency opened, which suggested they weren’t done yet.

The Leafs proved that Thursday afternoon, acquiring left winger Dakota Joshua from the Vancouver Canucks in return for a fourth-round draft pick in 2028. 

First and foremost, the Joshua trade, which obviously helps the Leafs’ bottom six, is a tacit admission the team cannot adequately replace the offense superstar right winger Mitch Marner brought to the table this season. If Leafs GM Brad Treliving could’ve done so, he would’ve done so by now. But there’s more to the deal than this.

Instead, Treliving aims to develop a tougher team that has a clearer delineation of duties. Stars Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares must do their part in creating offense, while others are there to be physical and dependable when it comes to chipping in on offense when the moment calls for it.

The Leafs’ makeover of the third and fourth lines – including squeezing the Vegas Golden Knights for center Nic Roy – says Treliving wasn’t lying when he talked about changing his team’s DNA.

With Roy and Joshua, as well as veterans Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz, Toronto’s bottom two lines will be punishers and defensively capable.

When Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment head honcho Keith Pelley said Leafs coach Craig Berube would have more input on Toronto’s roster moves, these are the kind of moves we expect to see. Roy is responsible in his own zone and gets in the dirty areas. Joshua makes you pay a price hit by hit. They’re both Berube’s kind of players. And clearly, Treliving and Berube are on the same page here. 

In this new Core Three Era, the Maple Leafs have never lacked for talent. They lacked grinders who can push opponents around long enough to win Stanley Cup playoff games. That’s what Treliving has addressed with his off-season moves.

Toronto is definitely going to be a different team next season. Calls for change by management weren’t just lip service. The Leafs talked the talk about being a different team next year – and with their new acquisitions, they’re walking the walk.

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