Toronto Maple Leafs hire Jim Hiller as head coach
Posted June 17, 2026 9:03 am.
Last Updated June 17, 2026 5:08 pm.
When general manager John Chayka announced that Jim Hiller would be the Toronto Maple Leafs’ new head coach, he was certain he found the right man for the job.
That’s because he left no stone unturned in the pursuit of his perfect bench boss.
“We took our time. We cast a very wide net. We ended up spending time with over 25 coaches, when it was all said and done,” Chayka told reporters on Wednesday during Hiller’s introductory press conference. “When we got through that process, it just created a lot of conviction that he was the right person at the right time with the right group, hopefully.”
Asked whether or not that process involved Bruce Cassidy, Chayka didn’t confirm or deny whether he had spoken with the former Vegas Golden Knights coach.
“I don’t want to comment on every candidate, but certainly we were exhaustive in pursuing everybody,” Chayka said, adding that through the process, it became clear that Hiller was the best candidate for the job.
“What separated Jim, it was clear that the players that have been around him, you know, really valued who he is as a person,” he continued. “They felt like he was committed to making the best versions of (the players). … He wanted the best out of people, and he was creating an environment that brought that out.”
Before taking over the Kings, Hiller spent two seasons as an assistant in Los Angeles and three with the New York Islanders, working under Barry Trotz. His first NHL coaching stop came in Toronto, where he helped guide the Leafs to three playoff appearances between 2015 and 2019 with Matthews, Marner and William Nylander.
For his part, Hiller said he’s still determining next steps regarding his coaching staff, but is committed to nurturing the “spirit” of the team.
“It’s the communication, it’s the relationships, it’s defining very clearly for everybody what the standards are. It’s when people reach milestones in their game, whether it’s offensively or defensively, within a game, it’s celebrating those milestones,” Hiller said. “It has to be celebrated. The game has to be fun.
“The job is: set it, celebrate it, and watch it grow.”
Hiller replaces Craig Berube, who was fired by the Maple Leafs in May following a disappointing 32-36-14 record with the team missing the playoffs for the first time in the Matthews era.
The new Leafs coach inherits a roster still built around its core stars but entering a new era under Chayka, who made his first big move as GM on Tuesday, sending Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to Philadelphia for Emil Andrae, Samuel Ersson and a 2026 third-round draft pick.
The Leafs will select first overall in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft.
