The Toronto Maple Leafs have found their next head coach, and it’s a name Leafs fans will remember from the Babcock years. The team announced Monday that Jim Hiller will take over behind the bench, making him the 41st head coach in franchise history.
Hiller isn’t walking into an unfamiliar building. He spent four seasons as an assistant coach under Mike Babcock, from 2015-16 through 2018-19. During that stretch, the Leafs reached the playoffs three times — but flamed out in the first round each year. That history will follow him, but the organization is betting he’s a different coach now.
“Jim is an experienced coach with a strong understanding of what it takes to win in today’s NHL,” new general manager John Chayka said in a statement. “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.”
Why This Hire Stands Out
Hiller isn’t just a retread of the past. He has actual head-coaching experience in the NHL — something rare for a midseason replacement hire. After serving as an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings, he took over as interim head coach when Todd McLellan was fired in February 2024. He guided the Kings to the playoffs, though they lost in the first round. The next season, Los Angeles finished second in the Pacific Division but suffered another first-round exit, this time to the Edmonton Oilers.
His tenure with the Kings ended during the 2025-26 season, when he was fired with a 24-21-14 record. Still, that experience gives him something the Leafs haven’t had in a recent hire: a taste of running the show from the top.
What Hiller Brings to Toronto
“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to return to Toronto and lead the Maple Leafs,” Hiller said. “This is a special organization with great players, passionate fans and high expectations. I’m looking forward to getting to work with our players and staff and doing everything we can to help this team reach its full potential.”
Hiller also spent time as an assistant with the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings before breaking into the NHL as a head coach in the WHL. His path mirrors the kind of grind Toronto will need to climb back into contention. The Leafs missed the playoffs this past season for the first time in nine years — a jarring fall for a team that’s been a regular-season powerhouse.
The hire came after notable names like Joe Pavelski and Bruce Cassidy were linked to the job, according to reports. Whether they were ever serious candidates remains unclear, but the Leafs have moved decisively to bring in a coach with a deep understanding of the organization’s culture and pressure cooker environment.
Now Hiller inherits a roster built for now — but a fanbase running out of patience. The question is whether a familiar face with a new vantage point can finally push Toronto past the first round, or if history is doomed to repeat itself.
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