The nation's best

It could all change in a month's time but as things stood on the morning of Oct. 25 the Toronto Maple Leafs were the best Canadian-based team in the NHL.

Not the highly-touted Vancouver Canucks. Nope. Last year's Stanley Cup finalist is off to a lousy start which has caused the locals to go a little cuckoo. Goaltender Roberto Luongo -- he of the 12-year contract that runs through 2021-22 -- is off to a typical stinky start with a 2-2-1 record featuring a 3.45 goals-against average (51st in the NHL) and .868 save percentage (38th).

The Montreal Canadiens -- Canada's other logical hope for a playoff team next spring -- is in worse shape. After dropping a 2-1 decision to the Florida Panthers Monday night, the Habs were sitting in the basement of the Eastern Conference with their fans screaming for the scalp of coach Jacques Martin. A 1-5-2 start in Montreal will do that.

The Calgary Flames haven't played well, although it's hard to say that is a big surprise. Likewise for the Winnipeg Jets, who despite an astonishing following in their new location, have not exactly taken the Great White North by storm. Both of those teams are likely to get better as the season progresses.

The Ottawa Senators are in rebuilding mode so the expectations aren't high. Three straight wins has them sitting at 4-5-0 which is pretty much what many expected from them. As for the Edmonton Oilers, they are young, fast and thus far have gotten good goaltending. I, for one, would not be shocked if they compete for a playoff spot this season, though many believe they are still at least a year away. We'll see.

And then there's the Leafs. On one hand you'd be correct to suggest they have benefited from a favorable schedule in the early going -- lots of games against struggling teams. The Leafs also opened with five straight games at home and came away with nine of a possible 10 points. After a thorough butt-kicking in Boston, the Leafs rebounded with an overtime victory in Montreal and then dropped a hard-fought 4-2 decision in Philadelphia Monday night.

What is most interesting about the revived Maple Leafs is, it was only a year ago people were suggesting the team had just one legitimate top-six forward -- the otherwise inconsistent Phil Kessel. Now Kessel has plenty of company. Toronto has at least five bona fide top-sixers and the results have been favorable. Kessel is joined on the top line by Joffrey Lupul who has been a pleasant surprise.

Then there's the second line of Mikhail Grabovski, Nikolai Kulemin and Clarke MacArthur which is starting to show signs of getting back to being the productive trio they were a year ago. With Tim Connolly now taking body contact in practice, he appears ready to join Kessel and Lupul. That will make six top-six forwards… a step in the right direction.

It is that new-found depth -- Grabovski, Kulemin and MacArthur emerged as a solid second line last season -- that has enabled the Leafs to be more competitive this season.

With more scoring help, Kessel has blossomed this season and as of Tuesday morning was leading the NHL in scoring with nine goals and 15 points in eight games. More importantly, there's a new commitment to defensive play which has also played a role in the Leafs' early success. I'm not saying the guy is going to challenge for the Selke Award as the NHL's best defensive forward, but he's making a noticeable effort.

"I said it before and I'll say it again: I think he has been our best forward," said captain Dion Phaneuf. "Not only offensively, but playing a full 200-foot game."

In fact, Kessel has points in every game except one and is plus-5.

Phaneuf, too, has taken his game to the next level in the early going. He has easily been Toronto's most consistent blue-liner and was tied for the league lead in points among defencemen with nine.

The Maple Leafs were given Tuesday off and will practice at the refurbished Madison Square Garden Wednesday before facing the Rangers Thursday night in their home opener. Then Toronto returns home for a game at the ACC against the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday.

With each day comes a new test for a team trying to convince the world -- and perhaps itself -- that it is the real deal. Regardless of how things turn out this season, for at least one day -- perhaps one week -- the Toronto Maple Leafs can wear the badge of Canada's best NHL team.

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy will cover the Toronto Maple Leafs for sportsnet.ca for the 2011/12 season.