Maple Leafs Hire Jim Hiller to Lead Coaching Reset

Sport

By lines

June 17, 2026

The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Jim Hiller as head coach on Wednesday. Jim Hiller becomes the 41st head coach in Maple Leafs franchise history. The move caps a busy offseason overhaul in Toronto.

Hiller Inherits a Maple Leafs Roster in Transition

Jim Hiller replaces Craig Berube behind the Maple Leafs bench. The Maple Leafs fired Craig Berube on May 13. New general manager John Chayka led the coaching search. John Chayka cited a need for an organizational shift. Jim Hiller signed to start the 2026-27 season.

Jim Hiller is 57 years old and a familiar face in Toronto. Jim Hiller served as a Maple Leafs assistant from 2015 to 2019. Jim Hiller most recently coached the Los Angeles Kings. Jim Hiller posted a 93-58-24 record across parts of three seasons. Jim Hiller guided the Kings to the 2025 NHL playoffs. The Kings then struggled early in the 2025-26 season. The Kings fired Jim Hiller on March 1 after an 8-1 loss to Edmonton.

Jim Hiller arrived in Toronto from Detroit alongside coach Mike Babcock. Jim Hiller ran the Maple Leafs power play under Mike Babcock. Jim Hiller left for the New York Islanders in 2019. Jim Hiller joined the Kings staff in 2022. Jim Hiller took the Kings interim job in February 2024.

John Chayka took over as Maple Leafs general manager this offseason. John Chayka fired Craig Berube within weeks of taking the job. John Chayka described the move as an organizational shift. The Maple Leafs have not won a Stanley Cup since 1967. The franchise has not reached a Cup Final since 1967. John Chayka now ties his tenure to the Jim Hiller hire.

The Maple Leafs reset the bench after firing Craig Berube in May. Craig Berube lasted one season as Maple Leafs head coach. John Chayka wants a new voice for the Maple Leafs core. The Maple Leafs lost winger Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2025. Jim Hiller must rebuild the Maple Leafs attack without Mitch Marner. The 2026-27 season now carries high stakes in Toronto.

Jim Hiller will name his Maple Leafs coaching staff in the coming weeks. John Chayka continues to reshape the Maple Leafs front office. The franchise last changed coaches in 2024 with Craig Berube. NHL training camps typically open in September. The 2026-27 regular season starts in October. Maple Leafs fans will watch how Jim Hiller runs the power play.