Jim Hiller was announced as the new head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs on June 17, 2026. He is returning to an organization where he previously worked as an assistant from 2015 to 2019.

With Hiller's hire, Toronto maintained its streak. For almost a century now, the Maple Leafs have consistently hired coaches who either had direct ties to the club or had already coached for the Stanley Cup.

The list includes figures like Conn Smythe, Dick Irvin, Hap Day, and Punch Imlach, who all built the Leafs a reputation. Even more recently, there were coaches like Pat Burns, Pat Quinn, Mike Babcock, Sheldon Keefe, and Craig Berube.

And now Hiller, with his four-season time with the organization, fits that list perfectly. Hiller becomes the 41st head coach in franchise history since the club's founding in 1917. 

Before returning to the Toronto team, Hiller had already spent three seasons as a head coach of the Los Angeles Kings from 2023-24 through 2025-26. He held a 93-58-24 record across 175 games and had a .600 win percentage. 

After speaking with over 25 candidates, General Manager John Chayka ultimately chose Hiller and spoke highly of him.

"Jim is an experienced coach with a strong understanding of what it takes to win in today's NHL," Chayka said. "He has worked with successful teams throughout his career, connects well with players and brings a clear approach behind the bench. We believe he's the right person to lead our team and help us reach our goals."

Prior to joining the Kings, Hiller spent time as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders from 2019-20 through 2021-22.

His experience proved him to be a capable NHL head coach who could manage rosters at a higher level.

A Familiar Face Returns to Toronto

Hiller's time with the Maple Leafs before was in the 2015-16 season and went through 2018-19. These were the years Toronto was rebuilding itself around its young stars, including Auston Matthews and William Nylander, and transitioning from a struggling club into a serious contender. 

Hiller’s work inside such an intense environment gave him firsthand knowledge of what works and what doesn’t. This is something Chayka emphasised when explaining the hire.

Now his return is more during a turbulent time for the team. Toronto finished last in the Atlantic Division during the 2025-26 season. They are placed 28th overall in the NHL, which is a new low compared to the previous year. Last season, the club was in the lead of their division and got to the second round of the playoffs. 

This disappointing season is what led to Craig Berube's firing in May. This later triggered a full reset in the franchise. Chayka himself was hired to take over as general manager just weeks earlier to replace Brad Treliving.

Hiller's hiring is significant because it continues the franchise tradition that was held on to for nearly a century. But his reputation in Toronto will ultimately be decided by his ability to restore the Maple Leafs to the top of the contenders.

What do you think of Toronto maintaining the tradition? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar