Sabres Summer Free Agent Target – Dakota Joshua
28-year-old center had career-high 18 goals with Vancouver last season
Sabres Summer Free Agent Target – Dakota JoshuaThe Buffalo Sabres face a season where accountability will be stressed under head coach Lindy Ruff and areas of need will have to be addressed by GM Kevyn Adams for the club to snap their 13-year playoff drought. We have been taking a look at players who could be potential trade targets this summer over the last few weeks in advance of a year that has to be considered playoffs or bust, but now we will take a look at who the Sabres could potentially be pursuing when the free agent market opens up on July 1.
Buffalo is not likely to pursue big-ticket players like Jake Guentzel or Elias Lindholm, as they will be pursuing long-term big-money contracts, but they will be looking for role players with size and two-way ability that can be signed for a lesser term and cap hit.
Dakota Joshua – Center (Vancouver Canucks)
Stats: 32 points (18 G, 14 A) in 63 games, 8 points (4 G, 4 A) in 13 playoff games
2023-24 Salary - $825,000
In going with the assumption that the Sabres will be looking to get bigger, tougher, and more versatile in their bottom six, the 28-year-old Joshua would be a good fit.
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Originally a fifth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014, the Michigan native played four years at Ohio State University, but the Leafs did not sign him after his senior season and he signed to a two-year, entry-level deal with St. Louis in 2019.
Joshua split time between the minors and the Blues, scoring just four goals in 42 NHL games, the big forward signed a two-year, $1.65 million deal with Vancouver.
The contract proved to be a great value for the Canucks, as the 28-year-old played both center and left wing, was a primary penalty killer, and scored 11 and 18 goals in two seasons. Joshua also scored key goals for Vancouver in both their first-round win over Nashville and their seven-game loss to Edmonton.
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