Toronto Maple Leafs' 5 Biggest Areas for Improvement Entering February

The Toronto Maple Leafs' 2014-15 season has quickly gone into the toilet. While there have been stretches of strong defensive play under head coach Peter Horachek, the team's confidence appears shattered. You can't win if you can't score.

The playoffs are no longer plausible, and thoughts have now turned to just how low the Leafs might sink.

While it is difficult to believe that the team could head all the way to the bottom of the standings, if they win just one game per month, as they did in January, it could happen.

Let's take a look at the five biggest areas for improvement for the Leafs as they enter February.

The Top Line Must Start Producing

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The Leafs' top line of Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak must start producing offensively.

The line is a defensive liability in most games, so if they aren't scoring, they aren't doing much.

Kessel has been most representative of this with his fall from the upper ranks of NHL scorers. He has just two goals in 2015. He's added just two assists in that same span.

JVR has two goals in his last 11 games. He's still been generating shots on goal, but almost nothing has been going in. Bozak has one goal since Christmas. 

JVR and Kessel are the two key offensive players on the club. Bozak must provide some support here too. If nothing changes with this line, don't expect much in terms of Leafs wins.

A Healthy Defence Core Including Dion Phaneuf

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While the team's defensive play hasn't been as poor as it was previously this season, the team clearly misses Dion Phaneuf. Phaneuf has played the most important defensive minutes for the team for several seasons.

Yes, he's prone to error, but it seems clear that the team is just not as good without Phaneuf in the lineup.

Phaneuf also has 22 points in 2014-15. He wasn't producing before his injury, but taking away his production simply further handcuffs the team offensively.

The Edmonton, Alberta, native remains the captain and one of a handful of leaders on the club. His return is much-needed in February.

Even-Strength Play Must Improve

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During the current 10-game losing streak, the Leafs have scored just 10 even-strength goals. That is not nearly good enough, particularly because the power play has not been on fire either.

The top line has a lot to do with this, but it goes deeper than that. No one is scoring consistently at even strength, so it's a roster-wide concern.

The coaching staff must continue to tweak lines and try to manufacture some scoring by putting players with different linemates. No line combinations should be sacred at this point. Watch to see if Nazem Kadri is used as a catalyst in this regard.

Keep an eye on the even-strength offensive production to indicate how well the team is doing as the month wears on.

Leaders Must Help Restore Confidence

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The Leafs look extremely fragile right now. Confidence is an ephemeral quality, even for elite athletes. It's difficult to conjure it, especially when everything seems to be going wrong.

Nothing will change if it doesn't come from within the locker room. Whether it's by words or actions, the team's leaders must lead from the front.

The team's best players have not been at their best. This has to change immediately. While things have been going horribly wrong, most players seem to be putting in the effort.

Everyone must start rowing together for a full 60 minutes. It has to be paid more than lip service. The club is not talented enough to play just one or two good periods.

Whether it's goals, big hits, strong forechecking or outstanding playmaking, the Leafs leaders have to ratchet it up.

Goaltending Must Return to Form

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The Leafs have not had the goaltending they have come to expect since Jonathan Bernier's arrival in a trade from the Los Angeles Kings.

Bernier has looked uncomfortable at times, and he has flubbed some relatively easy shots. He has had some exceptional games during the current losing streak. He was spectacular against both the Arizona Coyotes and the New Jersey Devils at the end of January, but neither of those teams have really dynamic offensive players.

Since the end of December, he's had five games with a save percentage less than .900, and his season average is down to a pedestrian .914.

Reimer has been equally unpredictable in his play. He stopped everything against the lowly Carolina Hurricanes in facing 18 shots, but he's been well under .900 in save percentage in games against the Winnipeg Jets and the Ottawa Senators.

The Leafs need better goaltending in February to stop this losing streak. It's not the only issue, but it might be the most important factor in turning the tide.

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