The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have hired former Los Angeles Kings coach Jim Hiller as their next coach and the 41st coach in franchise history.
Jim Hiller was named the 41st coach in franchise history!
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) June 17, 2026
As Dave McCarthy of NHL.com reported yesterday, after the trade involving Joseph Woll and Simon Benot, General Manager John Chayka said that he expects to hire a new head coach in the next few days. However, several days became one day.
Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Philadelphia Flyers Could Benefit from Their Hockey Trades
The deal came together very quickly, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who was on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio Morning Skate with Gord Stellick and Scott Laughlin and was surprised by the hire.
I am, just because I didn’t really hear his name until last night (Tuesday night), and suddenly I had a few people reach out to me, I said you better start looking at Hiller, and I think it sounds like they were negotiating overnight or until last night (Tuesday night) to do it.
But yeah, I mean, I heard Hiller being interviewed in Edmonton, obviously there was a lot, a lot of misdirection going on. I’ve been hearing some of the names that we’ve been reporting yesterday, Pat, Pat Ferschweiler, the latest from Western Michigan, and apparently they made a decision yesterday afternoon or last night that Hillerwa is going to be a guy.
Now that I look at it more, it starts to make more sense. I was reminded when I asked that when he was an assistant in Toronto under Mike Babcock for four seasons. So there’s familiarity with (Auston) Matthews and (William) Nylander, and I bet you played a role.
And another thing is that I was reminded by someone that after he was released from Toronto, or from Toronto, he interviewed for a relief job in Arizona. Rick Tocchet was the head coach at the time, and Chayka was the GM at the time, and he interviewed him, and he wanted to hire him. I was reminded, but the Islanders offered him better money, so he went there instead.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers Swap Forwards and Defensemen
Hiller was an assistant under Mike Babcock in Toronto, and was interviewed by a long list of coaches. The final team consisted of Hiller, Jay Woodcroft, Patrick Roy, Dallas Eakins, and Joe Pavelski.
The Leafs announce Jim Hiller as their new HC. Former assistant in Toronto under Mike Babcock.
The Leafs’ coaching search was extensive, with more than 20 candidates. The likes of Jay Woodcroft, Patrick Roy, Dallas Eakins and Joe Pavelski were considered for the final round. But Hiller gets…— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 17, 2026
John Chayka via Press Release: “A coach with experience and a strong understanding of what it takes to win in today’s NHL. He has worked with successful teams throughout his career, communicates well with players and brings a clear approach behind the bench.”
Hiller via Press Release: “I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to return to Toronto… a special organization with great players, passionate fans and high expectations. I look forward to working with the players, staff & doing everything we can to help this team reach its full potential”
NHL rumors: Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings
This is an unusual hire for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but there is history between Chayka and Hiller. He had a 93-58-24 record in Los Angeles before being released on March 1, 2026. However, the way things ended in Los Angeles was not Hiller’s best. He has never been able to get past the Kings in the first round of the playoffs, losing to the Edmonton Oilers in 2024 and 2025.
Most notably, 2025’s six-game losing streak in which he played only nine players and four defenders throughout the series, not trusting the young players to roll four lines regularly. So the structure of the program is very important for the Maple Leafs moving forward.
The Toronto Maple Leafs want to get back to the playoffs, and they feel like Jim Hiller can get them back there.
We had to restart our X account. Please follow @MyNHLRumorsX
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Rumors and hot topics from around the league. We also post some stuff on Instagram.
If you like our reporting, choose NHLrumors.com as a favorite source on Google.
