Hiller Leads Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs name Jim Hiller new head coach, bringing empathy and balance to team
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Jim Hiller as their new head coach, ending a search that included roughly 55 candidates, according to National Post. Hiller, 57, becomes the 41st coach in franchise history — and the 23rd since Punch Imlach last won a Stanley Cup for Toronto nearly 60 years ago, in 1967.
The hire was announced on June 17, 2026. Hiller said he is "incredibly excited for the opportunity to return to Toronto." GM John Chayka called him "the right person to lead our team," per Calgary Sun.
From LA Firing to Toronto's Hot Seat
Hiller's path to Toronto was turbulent. The Los Angeles Kings fired him on March 1, 2026, the morning after an 8-1 blowout loss to the Edmonton Oilers, according to Leader Post. His overall record in LA was solid — 93 wins, 58 losses, and 24 overtime losses — a .600 winning percentage over parts of three seasons.
Toronto itself was a mess heading into the hire. The Leafs finished 28th in the NHL in 2025-26 with a 32-36-14 record. That collapse followed a season where they topped the Atlantic Division. GM Brad Treliving was fired March 30. Coach Craig Berube was let go May 13, per LF Press.
A Toronto Return: Hiller Knows These Players
Hiller is not new to the Maple Leafs. He served as an assistant coach in Toronto from 2015 to 2019 under Mike Babcock. During that time, he ran the power play and worked directly with a young Auston Matthews and William Nylander, according to Sault This Week.
That history matters now. Matthews, a one-time Hart Trophy winner, is still the team's centerpiece. Veteran center John Tavares is in his mid-30s. Hiller must balance a roster of aging stars with a major rebuild already underway. GM Chayka traded goalie Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit to Philadelphia just one day before Hiller's hire, per Fort Saskatchewan Record.
A Chaotic Front Office Gets a New Look
The Leafs' off-season was about more than just a coaching change. MLSE announced a full leadership overhaul in early May. John Chayka was named GM. Franchise legend Mats Sundin joined as Senior Executive Advisor. Sundin was heavily involved in the coaching search, according to Recorder.
The search was exhaustive. Chayka's team interviewed about 55 candidates. High-profile names like Patrick Roy and Joe Pavelski were reportedly in the mix, per Goderich Signal Star. In the end, the Leafs chose a coach with deep internal knowledge of the organization over a bigger outside name.
Mixed Reviews and a No. 1 Pick Waiting
Reaction to the hire has been split. Supporters point to Hiller's reputation for empathy and player communication. Critics call it a "safe" choice. Some analysts question whether he is different enough from fired coach Berube, whose system the players "simply didn't care to execute" last season, according to Mitchell Advocate.
The stakes are enormous. Toronto holds the No. 1 overall pick at the 2026 NHL Draft — their first top pick since 2016. Projected top pick Gavin McKenna would join a roster of veterans in their mid-30s. Hiller must blend the two groups fast, per Sault Star.
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