Overview
- The Maple Leafs announced on June 17 that Jim Hiller will be the club’s next head coach, the first major coaching decision under new general manager John Chayka.
- Chayka said Hiller was chosen for his experience, player relationships and clear approach behind the bench, and Hiller described the return to Toronto as an exciting opportunity.
- Hiller returns to a familiar room after serving as a Maple Leafs assistant from 2015 to 2019 and brings three seasons of NHL head-coaching experience with the Los Angeles Kings, where he went 93-58-24 in the regular season.
- Critics note Hiller’s limited playoff track record with the Kings, where his teams did not advance past the first round, raising questions about whether he can fix Toronto’s postseason problems.
- Hiller inherits a still‑talented core, recent roster moves that include the Woll/Benoit trade, and responsibility for integrating the No. 1 pick at the 2026 draft, making power-play repair and short-term results the key measures of the hire’s success.