Overview
- The Maple Leafs announced Jim Hiller as their 41st head coach on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, replacing Craig Berube and taking immediate command of the team.
- Hiller, 57, returns to Toronto after four seasons as a Leafs assistant and three seasons as Los Angeles Kings head coach, where he went 93-58-24 in the regular season and was dismissed in March 2026.
- General manager John Chayka said Hiller was chosen for his experience, player relationships and clear approach behind the bench, and Hiller will lead the club into the June 2026 NHL Draft where Toronto holds the No. 1 pick.
- The hire surprised many observers because Hiller’s name was not widely reported during the long search and commentators called the pick a conservative, familiar choice rather than a radical new direction.
- The move is one piece of a broader reset that already included a trade of Joseph Woll and that aims to restore the Leafs’ playoff trajectory while raising questions about Hiller’s ability to deliver deeper postseason results.