Dakota Joshua Finally Passed For Postseason Hit Lead
Dakota Joshua had 74 hits during the Vancouver Canucks 13 playoff games this year.
Photo by Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports - Dakota Joshua Finally Passed For Postseason Hit LeadNearly a month after the Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, someone other than Dakota Joshua sits atop the NHL hits lead. Florida Panthers Sam Bennett passed Joshua, who recorded 74 hits in 13 games during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, with Joshua now tied for second with Edmonton Oilers' Dylan Holloway. The 74 hits Joshua recorded were the fifth most by a player in franchise history, with the other four spots belonging to players from the 2011 team who all played 25 games.
The fact that it took other players this long to surpass Joshua's total is a testament to how impactful the Canucks forward was. Joshua had a 29-hit advantage over Nikita Zadorov, who finished second on the team with 45 and finished the postseason with 21.58 hits per 60, which ranked second in the NHL among players who played at least 13 games. One of only five players to record double-digit hits in a single game during the 2024 postseason, he finished with more games of 6+ hits than five or below.
Heading into the offseason, there should be interest surrounding Joshua on the free-agent market. Not only was he one of the most physical players all season, but he also set a new career-high with 18 goals. Coming off a season where he was paid just under a million dollars, he is expected to cash in big time thanks to his strong performance this year.
Unfortunately for Vancouver, Joshua's career year may signal the end of his time as a Canucks player. Despite the organization wanting to bring him back, the Michigan-born forward may have priced himself out of what Vancouver can afford to pay him. While he may be with a new organization to start the 2024-25 campaign, it is safe to say Canucks fans will not forget the performance he put on during both the 2023-24 regular season and playoffs.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
