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Last season, when roster regulars kept being bitten by the injury bug, the Blues had to call on their taxi squad often. By the time that the team worked its way down to Dakota Joshua, the best fans could do to cope was really the only way Blues fans know how to cope*: with sarcasm.
You cannot convince me that “Dakota Joshua” is an actual, living person and not just a placeholder name in a video game that doesn’t have rights to use actual names
— Brian LeBlanc (@bdleblanc) March 21, 2021
Little did anyone know that Joshua’d endear himself to Blues fans by being an effective fourth-line guy. Adding in a goal early in his NHL career didn’t hurt, either:
Neither did knocking former Blue Ryan Reaves on his ass in front of the fans at Enterprise Center:
Today, the Blues rewarded Joshua with a one-year, two way contract. The deal, which us wirth $750,000, is an opportunity for Joshua to show what he’s capable of. If he’s lucky he’ll be able to do it in the NHL and not with the Springfield Falcons.
It remains to be seen how often the Blues will need Joshua’s services this season, but at least he’ll be a call-up that fans will be happy to see.
The Blues still have three restricted free agents to sign: Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, and Zach Sanford.
*other than the obvious - Hildy