MUST READ: Talented star player reportedly has interest in playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Although the Stanley Cup playoffs are ongoing, the offseason rumors have already started circulating.

For the Toronto Maple Leafs, there are several storylines to follow, including another early playoff exit, the potential firing of Sheldon Keefe and hiring of Craig Berube, and Mitch Marner being listed as a top trade target.

The Leafs have several roster holes to fill this offseason, as they await the fate of pending unrestricted free agents Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, TJ Brodie, Joel Edmundson, Mark Giordano, Ilya Lybushkin, Martin Jones, and Ilya Samsonov. Additionally, Connor Dewar, Noah Gregor, Nicholas Robertson, and Timothy Liljegren will need new deals as pending restricted free agents.

With a cap space of around $18.5 million, potential free agent options are already emerging, including Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua, who is expected to cash in this summer as a free agent.

According to James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel on Thursday’s edition of The Leafs Report, rumors suggesting that Dakota Joshua, who was drafted by the Leafs in the fifth round of the 2014 draft, would not be interested in returning to the team that drafted him are unfounded.

Mirtle stated, “I’ve heard some people say that Joshua wouldn’t want to be in Toronto because he was a draft pick and he played four years in college and walked. I’m told that’s not true.

He would be interested in Toronto.” Mirtle further explained that Joshua’s decision not to sign with the Leafs when he was drafted was due to his belief that it would be challenging to break into the forward group at the time, given the number of talented young forwards the team had. He thought he would have a better chance of getting an NHL opportunity faster by signing elsewhere.

Jonas Siegel noted that Dakota Joshua started his career playing for Craig Berube in St. Louis and then had a breakout year in Vancouver, setting career highs in goals, assists, and points.

Joshua, 28, is now a free agent after his contract talks with the Canucks stalled. This opens up an opportunity for the Toronto Maple Leafs to pursue him. According to Evolving-Hockey’s contract projections, Joshua’s next deal is expected to be a two-year contract worth $2.049 million per year.