Toronto Maple Leafs Players with the Most to Prove During the 2014-15 Preseason

While the entire Toronto Maple Leafs organization has a lot to prove in the 2014-15 regular season, some individual players must continue to do so in the preseason.

Whether it is just cracking the roster as a full-time player, establishing oneself as an elite two-player at the NHL level or redeeming mediocre play from last season, these players all have something to prove.

Yes, it's only the preseason, but here are four players, in no particular order, who have the most to prove in the coming days.

James Reimer, Goaltender

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

James Reimer was not awful in 2013-14, but he was something less than great. He lost his starting job to Jonathan Bernier and posted a pedestrian .911 save percentage.

His career save percentage is .914, but he has posted .924 and .921 seasons in the past. He has to hit those kinds of numbers starting in the preseason.

The Leafs have a strong duo in Reimer and Bernier, but Reimer has aspirations to be an NHL starter. Whether that can be in Toronto is debatable.

Posting strong numbers will help his cause either in Hogtown or elsewhere if he can catch another club's eye.

Josh Leivo, Winger

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Josh Leivo has the tools to be a top-nine NHL forward. He's got some good offensive instincts, decent mobility and the physical strength to grind it out when necessary.

Leivo might have had a spot locked up before the Leafs added several veteran forwards in the offseason. Most of them are proven NHL commodities, whereas Leivo has yet to establish himself as an NHL regular.

The Innisfil, Ontario, native played just seven games in 2013-14 with the Leafs, but he'd like to see that number be 82 in 2014-15. Playing responsible, two-way hockey and chipping in with goals and assists in the preseason could allow him to do so.

Nazem Kadri, Centre

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Nazem Kadri has exceptional offensive tools. He's got some of the best hands in the game, excellent agility and superb vision. 

Unfortunately, he has not exhibited these attributes regularly, nor has he played strong two-way hockey as often as the club would like.

Tyler Bozak posted good numbers in 2013-14, but the No. 1 centre on this team, particularly when playing with James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel, should be at better than a point per game.

Neither Bozak nor Kadri has done this yet, but Kadri seems much more likely of the two to do so moving forward. Kadri did earn 44 points in 48 games in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.

An excellent preseason could force the Leafs to give Kadri a shot in the No. 1 centre position.

Korbinian Holzer, Defenceman

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

The window of opportunity is beginning to close for Korbinian Holzer. He's 26 years old and at the age where he should be ready for regular NHL duty.

He's had four years in the AHL and has been a plus player in plus/minus in each of those four seasons. The native of Munich, Germany, did score 23 points last year, but he won't be expected to be a big offensive contributor with the Leafs.

He needs to have a great preseason and make the step to the NHL this year. He'll do that by being defensively responsible and making smart, quick plays with the puck.

Dependability will serve his chances more than anything else.

With a number of young defence prospects in the Leafs system, time may be slipping away otherwise.

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