Rick Tocchet has long believed Dakota Joshua had something special to offer the Vancouver Canucks.

The coach saw it when he took over the team last January, and he set to work getting the most out of the big winger.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a coachable kid,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said on Monday. B次元官网网址淚 just think that he needs to be pushed in the right direction and in the right way.B次元官网网址�

Joshua has come alive under Tocchet, putting up career high numbers during a campaign that saw Vancouver rise to the top of the league standings before clinching its first division title since 2013.

The hockey world got another glimpse of his talent Sunday as Joshua powered the Canucks to a 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

The performance was no surprise to JoshuaB次元官网网址檚 teammates.

B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 be happier for him. HeB次元官网网址檚 such a big part of this hockey team and I donB次元官网网址檛 even know if he knows how good he is, man,B次元官网网址� J.T. Miller said after SundayB次元官网网址檚 game. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 so good at a lot of things and IB次元官网网址檓 just really happy for him to get rewarded tonight. He played great.B次元官网网址�

Linemate Conor Garland said heB次元官网网址檚 often told the 27-year-old Joshua just how skilled he is.

B次元官网网址淚 see it in practice when thereB次元官网网址檚 no pressure in the plays he makes,B次元官网网址� Garland said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes it takes awhile to figure out the league. I told him that. It took me forever. And then you have some ups, you have some downs. YouB次元官网网址檙e just trying to find yourself as a player.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 getting to that age where I think heB次元官网网址檚 just coming into his own. And I think heB次元官网网址檚 just going to keep getting better and better.B次元官网网址�

Hailing from Dearborn, Mich., Joshua was selected by the Toronto in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL entry draft. He never suited up for the Maple Leafs, and Toronto dealt him to St. Louis for future considerations in July 2019.

Joshua bounced between the Blues and their American Hockey League affiliates before signing with Vancouver as a free agent in July 2022 and earning a spot on the Canucks roster out of training camp. HeB次元官网网址檚 set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

There is a lot to like about the six-foot-three, 206-pound winger, Tocchet said, from his wall play and physicality to the way he can use his hands.

Coming into training camp last fall, though, the coach expressed concerned about JoshuaB次元官网网址檚 conditioning and placed him with a group who werenB次元官网网址檛 expected to make the NHL clubB次元官网网址檚 lineup on opening night.

B次元官网网址淗e took the criticism and he was awesome,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said. B次元官网网址淗e knew whatever the problem we had and he owned it. And look where he is now. HeB次元官网网址檚 done a hell of a job for us.B次元官网网址�

Joshua made the opening-night roster and went on to put up career highs in points (32), goals (18) and assists (14) while averaging 14 minutes and 23 second of ice time across 63 games this season.

He missed 18 outings with a hand injury after getting into a fight during VancouverB次元官网网址檚 win over the Blackhawks in Chicago on Feb. 13, then had five goals and an assist in 10 appearances down the stretch.

Sunday marked JoshuaB次元官网网址檚 second NHL playoff game B次元官网网址� he played his first with the Blues in 2022 B次元官网网址� and he made an impact with both his physicality and offensive touch.

In addition to his three points, Joshua registered six of VancouverB次元官网网址檚 39 hits, tied with Predators winger Cole Smith for most in the game.

Playoff hockey is what everyone wants to play, whether theyB次元官网网址檙e known for their physicality, skill or something else, Joshua said.

B次元官网网址淵ou want to be in the playoffs and play for the Cup. The emotions are high at the start, everybody wants to get a hit in and get their legs under them,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut yeah, bring on the pain. YouB次元官网网址檙e going to have to go through some stuff to get that ultimate prize.B次元官网网址�

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