Joshua to serve four more years as Canucks continue series of moves

The Vancouver Canucks have signed Dakota Joshua to a four-year contract extension, the club announced Thursday.

The contract has an average annual value of $3.25 million.

Originally selected in the fifth round (128th overall) by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL Draft, Joshua enjoyed a breakout campaign in Vancouver this past season, posting career highs in goals (18) and assists (14) in 63 games. games.

The 6-foot-1, 206-pound forward also contributed four goals and four assists in 13 playoff games.

“Dakota had a strong season for us and took some big steps forward in his play,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a news release. “We really like his size, his speed and physicality. He fits well with our system and the way we want to play hockey and I look forward to seeing him develop under our coaching staff.”

The signing came a day after Vancouver locked up Joshua’s linemate, Teddy Blueger, to a two-year contract worth $3.6 million.

Joshua joined the Canucks as a free agent in 2022, signing a two-year contract worth $1.65 million.

He scored 33 goals and 31 assists in 184 NHL games with the Canucks and St. Louis Blues, who acquired the Dearborn, Michigan native from the Leafs in 2019 in exchange for future considerations.

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