Dakota Joshua On Pace For A Historic Season
Joshua is tied for second in the NHL with 183 hits.
Photo by Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports - Dakota Joshua On Pace For A Historic SeasonOne player that should find himself in the Vancouver Canucks record book by the end of the season is Dakota Joshua. The Canucks winger is up to 183 in 50 games and is currently on pace to shatter Luke Schenn's franchise record of 273 he set in 2021-22. One of the league's best when it comes to throwing hits, he could also end up as the NHL's hit leader among forwards, as he currently sits tied with Cal Clutterbuck at the top of the list.
The conversation around Joshua setting the single-season franchise record for hits is new, thanks to an audit on hits done by the NHL. On Feb. 7, the league announced that they had gone back and adjusted hit totals for all players as hits were not tracked consistently from building to building. As a result of the audit, Joshua's hit total rose by 31, changing his pace from 239 to 290, which would set a new franchise record for hits in a season.
While holding a franchise record is a notable accomplishment, Joshua potentially recording 300 hits will be crucial in negotiations this offseason. He is a pending unrestricted free agent and will be in line for a big raise this year. Whether it is in Vancouver or somewhere else in the NHL, it is safe to say he will be carrying a cap hit higher than $825,000 in 2024-25.
It will be interesting to see how many hits Joshua ends up with this season. On top of the additional 31 he received on Feb. 7, it seems he has been given another hit, as his total now sits at 183. Regardless of whether he sets the franchise record or records 300 hits this season, he has been the Canucks unsung hero this year and developed into a valuable asset to the organization.
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