The Toronto Maple Leafs' Secret Weapon Nobody is Talking About
One asset that no one is talking about that should be getting a lot of credit this season is the Toronto Maple Leafs Video Coordinator team.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been largely successful on the ice in good part to their high-end superstars such as Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander, & Mitch Marner; who has arguably been the team's MVP.
But one key factor that often goes unnoticed is Toronto's stellar challenge record. Head coach Craig Berube has been perfect this season, and they always seem to know exactly when to make the decision to dispute.
So how exactly does Toronto have such a keen eye for making the right call? Thank their heavily coordinated and efficient video review team.
Toronto Maple Leafs Getting Help From Unexpected Area
Under Video Coordinator and Statistical Analyst Jordan Bean as well as Video and Coaching Coordinator Sam Kim, the Toronto Maple Leafs are 12-0 in coaches challenges since 2022, being 5-0 this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube and goaltender Joseph Woll credited the video department with their successful ability to win reviews.
Sam Kim, formerly a video coach in the AHL and in South Korea, was named a video coordinator for the Leafs in the 2020-21 season. He spent time with the Springfield Falcons and Bakersfield Condors, and worked in Korea from 2016-2019.
He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Boston College, as well as a Master's Degree in Sports Management from UMass-Amherst.
Jordan Bean has been with Toronto since the 2016-17 season, having previously been with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL in a similar role.
Bean graduated with honors from Brock University with a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management, before interning with the Guelph Storm and later writing for the Buffalo Sabres beat.
The two are apart of a deep focus the Toronto Maple Leafs have in analytics & video, being meticulous in their value of having talent both with statistics & eye test people, balancing the two.
The Leafs video department has arguably been in recent years the team's most valuable assets, quietly behind the scenes making the Toronto Maple Leafs a winning hockey club and being the unsung heroes who help from the shadows.
