5 Toronto Maple Leafs with Positive Starts in First Quarter of 2015-16 Season

By Darrell Samuels

5 Toronto Maple Leafs with Positive Starts in First Quarter of 2015-16 Season

Mike Babcock, Toronto Maple Leafs — The Toronto Maple Leafs have completed 21 games of the 2015-16 NHL campaign. The record is 7-10-4 and they have 18 points at the quarter point of the season. The team will probably not even make the playoffs, but a quarter through the season there are some positives. The following five have adjusted well in year one of the rebuild in Toronto.

5. Dion Phaneuf

Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs

5. Dion Phaneuf

Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs — The captain has adjusted quite well under head coach Mike Babcock. Fans are well aware of the captain's defensive deficiencies and Babcock appears to have worked on diminishing Phaneuf's weaknesses. So far there is not a lot wrong with Phaneuf's play. Toronto fans are probably hoping that his play continues to improve, so that management can deal their captain before the February Trade Deadline.

4. Matt Hunwick

Matt Hunwick

4. Matt Hunwick

Matt Hunwick — This summer, Hunwick was one of the first new free agent signings and has proven to be a valuable defenseman that Babcock has relied upon. He has not scored with frequency, but he has proven to be a man that the coach can rely upon. He is money well spent by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

3. Leo Komarov

Leo Komarov

3. Leo Komarov

Leo Komarov — On July 1, 2014, Komarov signed a four-year, $2.9 million deal for each season and he is proving his value. Last season he had 26 points in 62 contests. In 21 contests, he has ten points and is the fifth leading scoring player in Toronto. He is being counted on and given top-six forward minutes. He is a definite positive within a roster filled with forwards who have limited scoring ability.

2. Nazem Kadri

Nazem Kadri, Toronto Maple Leafs

2. Nazem Kadri

Nazem Kadri, Toronto Maple Leafs — The former first-round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft has struggled under the team's previous head coaches Ron Wilson, Randy Carlyle and Peter Horachek. However, he appears to have found his confidence under Babcock. While he is struggling to score with regularity, the confidence appears to have returned and has reminded Leafs fans what talent he might develop into if he stays on the roster.

1. James Reimer

James Reimer

1. James Reimer

James Reimer — The goaltending dilemma has been a problem since the first-round Game 7 collapse against the Boston Bruins with James Reimer between the pipes. The team went to add Jonathan Bernier to improve the goaltending. After a turbulent tenure playing for former head coaches Ron Wilson, Randy Carlyle and Peter Horachek, everything appears to be fine for Reimer now. He has wrestled the top goaltending duty away from Bernier with a winning streak.

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Toronto Maple Leafs

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