Bold Predictions for the Toronto Maple Leafs as the 2014-15 NHL Season Begins

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a number of changes to begin the 2014-15 season that will have the club's supporters hopeful that they are a playoff team this season.

While the Eastern Conference is not nearly as competitive as the Western Conference, making the playoffs remains a tall order for the Leafs.

The team must get off to a good start in its first 15 to 20 games. Doing this with so many new faces will prove challenging.

With this in mind, here are five bold predictions as the 2014-15 season begins for the Maple Leafs.

5. Jonathan Bernier Will Be a Vezina Candidate

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While it is challenging for a goaltender to win the Vezina Trophy on a mediocre team, Jonathan Bernier will be the exception.

Bernier has become an upper-tier goaltender in a loaded division. Along with Ben Bishop, Tuukka Rask and Carey Price.

Bernier was tied for sixth in save percentage in the NHL in 2013-14 among goalies who played more than 50 games. This was on a relatively weak defensive team that should be improved this year.

Expect Bernier to top the .925 save-percentage mark and to post more than 30 wins in doing so.

4. Brandon Kozun Nets More Than 40 Points

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Winger Brandon Kozun has been given a great opportunity in Toronto. Faced with a logjam of talented, huge wingers in Los Angeles, he wasn't going to get an opportunity on the West Coast.

Things will be different in Toronto. Expect Kozun to get some meaningful minutes on the Leafs' second line. He and Nazem Kadri could produce magic over the course of this season.

Kozun, a native of Los Angeles, has been quite productive at the AHL level. He hit a career high of 56 points in 2012-13.

Kozun could approach the 50-point mark in 2014-15. Expect him to surpass 40 at least.

3. Phil Kessel Challenges for the Rocket Richard Trophy

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If Phil Kessel had an elite offensive centre, he'd be a threat to win the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's top goal-scorer in most years.

Granted, he, Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk have developed some very good chemistry. However, neither player has the offensive upside that Kessel boasts.

Despite his linemates' limitations, expect Kessel to approach 50 goals and potentially lead the league in goal scoring. Kessel has all-world speed and a great nose for the net.

Kessel has had 37 goals in the most recent full, 82-game schedules. He'll increase this total by at least 10 in 2014-15.

2. The Leafs Finish in the Top 20 in Shots Against

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have been awful in their own end for several seasons now. The club has given up way too many shots, and as a result, far too many scoring chances.

The club was dead last in shots against in 2013-14 in giving up almost 36 shots per game, per sportingcharts.com.

The team has added some better depth forwards, the young defence is maturing with each game and the team's top-six forward group should match up well with many opponents.

The Leafs will have the puck more, generate more shots and quite simply play fewer minutes in the defending zone. Expect a huge improvement in this category.

1. The Maple Leafs Will Be a Playoff Team

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The road to the playoffs will be difficult to navigate. Don't expect the Leafs to win their division this season.

But, based on the changes the organization has made to the roster, this team should make the playoffs. The defence will be better than last season. The forward group has been bolstered, and the goaltending duo is in the top 10, if not the top five in the NHL. 

The Leafs should top the 90-point mark and finish in the Eastern Conference's top eight.

All stats can be found on NHL.com unless noted otherwise.