Overview
- Coach Jim Hiller said Monday that Joshua is “on his return to play and not quite there yet,” and he would not confirm whether the winger will be ready for the Sept. 29 season opener.
- Joshua missed recent split-squad preseason games and was held out while he skated with the Toronto Marlies group at practice, a sign the team views his status as uncertain but still active in on-ice rehab.
- The 30-year-old played 55 games last season with 10 goals and eight assists and led the Leafs with 195 hits, underlining his role as a physical fourth-line winger when healthy.
- Beat and analytic coverage says the Leafs could place Joshua on injured reserve or long-term injured reserve or expose him to waivers or an AHL assignment if he cannot be made available, moves that would affect the roster and cap situation.
- Joshua has a recent history of significant absences, including an upper-body injury that ended his 2025–26 season early and a prior lacerated kidney and surgery, which raises questions about reliability as the club evaluates bottom-six options under a new coach and GM.