Maple Leafs place forward Bo Groulx on waivers

The Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Bo Groulx on waivers Monday, a move that clears a roster spot for the returning Dakota Joshua, according to reports from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and other outlets.

Friedman reported the move on social media Monday afternoon, Pro Hockey Rumors said. Neither Pro Hockey Rumors nor The Hockey News, whose report was syndicated by Yahoo Sports Canada, quoted a Leafs official on the decision, and the team had not publicly explained it in the reports reviewed by Canada News Media.

Joshua, 30, has returned to the lineup full time after a core muscle injury that slowed him through training camp, The Hockey News reported. He made his season debut Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks and led Toronto with five shots on goal and seven hits, according to the same report. The Leafs won that game 4-2, as Canada News Media reported.

The Hockey News said Joshua “seems to have bumped Groulx out” of the lineup. Pro Hockey Rumors said Groulx has lost his roster spot and described a move involving him as a likely scenario even before Joshua came back from injury.

Groulx appeared in seven games for Toronto this season, according to Pro Hockey Rumors. He did not score, was plus-1, averaged 8:03 of ice time and recorded 12 hits. His most recent appearance came Oct. 28 against the Seattle Kraken, when he played 6:23, The Hockey News reported. Before that, he had not played since Oct. 17 against the New York Islanders, Pro Hockey Rumors said. That is fewer than half of the team’s games.

The Hockey News reported that Groulx is in the final year of a two-year contract with a salary-cap hit of $812,500. If he clears waivers, he would be expected to report to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, where he has been productive. Groulx had 28 goals and 52 points in 59 AHL games last season before the NHL trade deadline, both outlets reported, then was recalled and finished the NHL season with three goals and five points in 13 games. He added eight goals and 14 points in 23 playoff games as the Marlies won the 2026 Calder Cup, according to the reports. The Marlies opened this season with a record of 6-4-1-0, Pro Hockey Rumors said.

Neither report said how long other teams have to claim Groulx or whether any club had done so. Under NHL rules, a player placed on waivers can be claimed by another team before he can be assigned to the minors.

Roster moves have been frequent in Toronto this fall. The Leafs acquired forward Aatu Räty from the Canucks on Oct. 15, and John Tavares has been week to week with a lower-body injury since Oct. 17. Defenceman Chris Tanev was also placed on injured reserve in October.

Canada News Media will update this story if the Leafs or another club confirm what happens with Groulx.

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Via Pro Hockey Rumors and The Hockey News (Yahoo Sports Canada), with reference to a Sportsnet report.