Grading Toronto Maple Leafs' Stars Through the First Few Games of 2014-15 Season

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't been firing on all cylinders in 2014-15, but the club seems to have turned a collective corner based on recent play.

While there is work to be done in almost all areas of the game, there have been some promising performances. James Reimer and Stuart Percy have played very well to date. Those are not two players that would have been tagged by many to be among the team's best after a few games.

Yes, it's early, but let's grade the four bona fide Leafs stars after the team's opening week of play. 

Dion Phaneuf

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Grade: B

Dion Phaneuf has had a decent start to the season, by many measures, but the club does need more from its captain.

The 6'3" Leafs captain has three points in four games, which is very good. He's also plus-one on a club that still needs to be much better defensively.

But he has made some glaring mistakes defensively—mistakes that have plagued his game for years. He must be steadier defensively, although that is easier said than done given that his ice time has approached 25 minutes in the most recent two games.

Phaneuf's cap hit is $7 million per year, and he needs to be the best Leafs defender on a nightly basis. He's been good in many situations, but he needs to be great.

Jonathan Bernier

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Grade: D

Jonathan Bernier has been awful to start the season. Luckily for the Leafs, James Reimer has been very good so the club has had a mediocre versus a disastrous start.

Bernier has an .882 save percentage and a goals-against average of 4.51 in three games.

He has not registered a win to date, either.

Ten goals against in 133 minutes of play is not nearly good enough. Look for these numbers to improve markedly in the next few weeks.

Bernier's too good for this not to happen.

James van Riemsdyk

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Grade: B+

James van Riemsdyk has looked better with each passing game. JVR has all the tools to be one of the top wingers in the game.

All indicators are that he's taking his game to an elite level in 2014-15.

JVR has three points in the first four games, and his short-handed marker against the Rangers was a beautiful goal. He's had 16 shots in four games, and the Leafs' first line has looked dominant at times.

There's every reason to believe that the Middletown, New Jersey, product is going to have a career year. This bodes well for Leafs Nation.

Phil Kessel

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Grade: A-

Phil Kessel is paid to score. He's putting up more than a point per game in 2014-15. That is great production in today's NHL.

Like most of the Leafs, he didn't play really well in the club's first two games, but he turned it up to a new level in the last two games.

Kessel had five points in games against the New York Rangers and the Colorado Avalanche. He could have had two or three more points as he was buzzing in both contests.

Tyler Bozak, JVR and Kessel have been excellent, at times, in the first four games.

The Leafs will be a playoff contender if this line can play dynamic offensive hockey through the heart of the season.

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

All salary information can be found on capgeek.com.