Who Should Be the Toronto Maple Leafs' No. 1 Center in 2014-15?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are three games into the 2014-15 NHL regular season with mixed results.

The club has two points from three games, with their most recent effort against the reigning Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers being the team's best game. The Leafs routed the Rangers 6-3 on Sunday night, per NHL.com.

The Leafs looked very good offensively. The top two lines were buzzing all night, and even the depth players were productive, with Leo Komarov, Daniel Winnik and David Clarkson combining for four points.

There is no question that the 2014-15 Leafs have more players in the bottom six that can play a skilled game than in 2013-14.

Additionally, the top two lines were much better against the Rangers than they had been in the first two games. Phil Kessel had several great chances in posting three points. Fellow top-line winger James van Riemsdyk had a goal and an assist.

The top two Leafs centers were also very good. Tyler Bozak played reliable, two-way hockey in getting a goal and an assist.

Nazem Kadri was even more dynamic, as he was flying all night. He could have had a mittful of points. The young pivot ended up with one goal and registered four shots on goal.

Kadri played on a few different lines versus the Rangers, as he was playing his best hockey of the season. He really does seem to be committed to playing a 200-foot game.

He has certainly earned the opportunity to get some first-line minutes, which he actually received in the Rangers contest. Kadri had almost 20 minutes of ice time, while Bozak had 17:58 minutes. 

Without question, there is something to be said for having balanced scoring, at least on two, if not three lines. If a club can have three scoring lines on most nights, it will be successful on a regular basis.

However, Kadri's dynamic play does seem well suited to the all-world talent that Kessel possesses. 

Bozak, Kessel and JVR have been very good, but Bozak does not have the offensive chops to play with Kessel in all circumstances. Kadri deserves the opportunity to get an extended period of time alongside Kessel, whereas Bozak could become one of the top second-line centers in the game.

Bozak has improved his game over time. His 49 points in 58 games during the 2013-14 season revealed his ability to produce consistently. But a JVR-Kadri-Kessel triumvirate could prove to be one of the Eastern Conference's best lines. 

The line boasts all of the key elements that the NHL's top lines have: some good size, excellent speed, the ability to create off the rush, decent grit to work the puck on the cycle and all kinds of skill.

If the team wants to add a more defensive element at certain points in the game, Bozak could easily be put back at center. This would protect Kadri from some of the toughest defensive assignments.

Ultimately, the days of lines staying together for entire seasons are something of the past. Many coaches mix their lines multiple times in a single game. 

The very talented Kadri deserves the opportunity to be the Leafs' No. 1 center for a good portion of this season.

The club's playoff hopes may hinge on it, as a slow start could have the Leafs outside the playoff picture once again by next spring.

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