Confirmed with Link: Leafs Hire Jim Hiller as Head Coach

[Gabriel426]

Are people being negative bc they didn’t see Hiller as a candidate or Hiller is a horrible coach or Leafs didn’t get the guy they prefer?

 

[yubbers]

Could be worse, we could be hiring Mike Babcock fergoshsakes.

He was Babs ' assistant here

 

[yubbers]

why is that lazy. Yubs. expand please.
some people. again, can't just "glance." and rip off what he wants to say, but he clearly feels what he wants to say needs to be said and he doesn't want to miss a step

if he was a stuttering messs and couldn't remember what he wanted to say, would that have been better for you? like i'm just trying to figure out why it's lazy.

Because it shows you took no time to prep for your speech.

He's decent off the cuff.

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

Because it shows you took no time to prep for your speech.

He's decent off the cuff.

He have given some ok interviews and some really boring ones. Its like listening to an IT guy.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Jim Hiller Media Availability | June 17, 2026

Toronto Maple Leafs

June 17, 2026

Jim Hiller speaks to the media as the Leafs 41st head coach.

 

[yubbers]

I feel like a hippy being happy with him talkin about the teams 'spirit' LOL

 

[yubbers]

He have given some ok interviews and some really boring ones. Its like listening to an IT guy.

Yeah..he's awkward. But he can communicate effectively

 

[Daisy Jane]

Because it shows you took no time to prep for your speech.

He's decent off the cuff.

no. it doesn't. as per the examples i showed you.
not everyone can be like that.

for example. hi. me. i can practice until i am blue, dead in the face but if i don't have what i need to say, legitmatelly colour coded, and numbered, so if i make a mistake i know exactly where to pick up and keep going without looking or feeling like a fool. i'm dead. it's over.

I think it shows more that he's aware enouhg to know that he can't just recite en route and needs help rather than trying, failing and people critising him over that.

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

Yeah..he's awkward. But he can communicate effectively

It was fun to see him when we won the lottery. Nothing robotic about him then.

I am however ok with his ”style”.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[thewave]

Are people being negative bc they didn’t see Hiller as a candidate or Hiller is a horrible coach or Leafs didn’t get the guy they prefer?

Or just seeing this all as a continuation of the Dubas NuHockey experiment under new management. Chayka 6 years out of hockey, Dubas no NHL experience. Hiller no head coach experience. Keefe no NHL experience.

It's just the same shit different flies.

 

[Gabriel426]

Or just seeing this all as a continuation of the Dubas NuHockey experiment under new management. Chayka 6 years out of hockey, Dubas no NHL experience. Hiller no head coach experience. Keefe no NHL experience.

It's just the same shit different flies.

Wasn’t Hiller the HC with the Kings the past few seasons?

 

[BertCorbeau]

Or just seeing this all as a continuation of the Dubas NuHockey experiment under new management. Chayka 6 years out of hockey, Dubas no NHL experience. Hiller no head coach experience. Keefe no NHL experience.

It's just the same shit different flies.

Hiller was the head coach of the Kings from 2024-2026

 

[Buds17]

Are people being negative bc they didn’t see Hiller as a candidate or Hiller is a horrible coach or Leafs didn’t get the guy they prefer?

I find the hire to be a mixed bag and my main worry is if Hiller's better suited to the role of assistant rather than being the lead behind a bench. I assumed Chayka would've hired either someone younger/less experienced or someone with more of a track record (going anywhere beyond simply being a playoff team) and this hire isn't exactly either. I likely can deal with both Hiller and Chayka though since my short-term objective for the team is getting back to the playoffs.

 

[Albz]

This is what's wrong with this fan base. We always want the big name guy to get hired.... and we've always gotten that and always turned into shit hiring... so far im loving these shocking hires!

 

[namttebih]

Or just seeing this all as a continuation of the Dubas NuHockey experiment under new management. Chayka 6 years out of hockey, Dubas no NHL experience. Hiller no head coach experience. Keefe no NHL experience.

It's just the same shit different flies.

Wasn't he the Kings head coach for a couple of years?

 

[Aashir]

Are people being negative bc they didn’t see Hiller as a candidate or Hiller is a horrible coach or Leafs didn’t get the guy they prefer?

my first reaction was the 1-3-1 is not gonna float here, nor am I gonna spend much time watching that boring ass tactic unless we are a 100+ point team...then I thought about how he kept losing to the oilers in the first round....

after hearing we might not play the 1-3-1 I am a bit more optimistic, even if it is only due to us not being as boring as i originally thought, but still have a lot of concerns on if this guy is capable of being an NHL head coach that doesn't use the 1-3-1 and has an effective plan that results in wins and if he can win playoff series's with what we have if we make it.

idgaf that he wasn't on the 'inner list' report or whatnot, nor do i care we didn't get the guy I wanted, mostly because I didn't have a single guy I wanted.

 

[NostraDanny]

This is what's wrong with this fan base. We always want the big name guy to get hired.... and we've always gotten that and always turned into shit hiring... so far im loving these shocking hires!

Agreed. It seems fresher with just the few hirings.

 

[Gabriel426]

I find the hire to be a mixed bag and my main worry is if Hiller's better suited to the role of assistant rather than being the lead behind a bench. I assumed Chayka would've hired either someone younger/less experienced or someone with more of a track record (going anywhere beyond simply being a playoff team) and this hire isn't exactly either. I likely can deal with both Hiller and Chayka though since my short-term objective for the team is getting back to the playoffs.

To me, I will wait till Xmas to make any judgement.

Even if we hire Q or Cooper as coach, there is a chance that we might end up missing the playoffs completely too.

No point getting piss or upset until the Leafs is bottom in the standings.

 

[Daisy Jane]

This is what's wrong with this fan base. We always want the big name guy to get hired.... and we've always gotten that and always turned into shit hiring... so far im loving these shocking hires!

there is nothing wrong with people wanting the organization to hire what is known. people aren't upset that it's not a big name. [well unlesss you Sid Sexerio apparently]. the leafs have also hired people who aren't big names and it didn't go well either.

HIller came out of the blue. no idea what he was about, most people are over the shock and are going to be optimistic. that's it.

 

[Trapper]

I feel like a hippy being happy with him talkin about the teams 'spirit' LOL

Peace my friend. Let the great “spirit” guide you. We’re not going to forecheck, that’s rude man. We aren’t going to push back, peace and love. We ain’t gonna listen to the man trying to change us.

 

[MK78]

I listened to a bunch of reactions from Kyper, Dangle, Sid, etc...

I myself don't remember at all that he was an assistant under Babcock here, I guess because Babcock was front & center all the time. What I do remember is the powerplay was pretty good in those days.

I am surprised that it wasn't any of the guys in the rumor will, but I'm pretty sure thats how the Leafs wanted it to look and they threw the false flags out there for the rumor mill to churn. I am glad its not the hot-head Patrick Roy, or a raw-as-hell would be rookie Pavelski. I think I would have been fine if it was Cassidy or Woodcroft, not so much Laviolette but he was already hired.

I'll reserve my judgement to see how they look in training camp and early season, because it's been a long time since they started the season well outside of the Canadian Division Covid year.

 

[Albz]

there is nothing wrong with people wanting the organization to hire what is known. people aren't upset that it's not a big name. [well unlesss you Sid Sexerio apparently]. the leafs have also hired people who aren't big names and it didn't go well either.

HIller came out of the blue. no idea what he was about, most people are over the shock and are going to be optimistic. that's it.

No, majority of people are mad because it wasnt a known big name like Cassidy..... we've hired big names coaches only last 3 coaches. Babs, Keefe, Berube and Carlyle... maybe Keefe wasnt as big of a name but he was getting lots interest around the league before we hired apperently..... hiller wasnt outta the blue, for us and media sure, because chayka isnt leaking anything. Which I love....

 

[MajorLeaf]

Keith Pelley “Jim, what is your salary expectation?”

Jim Hiller: “$1,000,000 to $850,000 range.”

Keith Pelley: Montgomery Burns voice “Excellennnnt”. We will give you $900,000”

Jim Hiller: “Great where do I sign?”

And so goes the find the cheapest candidate available for the MLSE shareholders to pay less. I could be wrong, just feels this way with the recent hires made by the organization.

 

[Kazparov]

I love it.

1. Ran the offense and PP when he was here the last time. Players have familiarity with him and he knows them. Been in the league as an Assistant coach for 12 years. Know's what's going on. Is a players coach.

2. Follows a PLAN, which is what we lacked. Will the plan work? No idea, but the last time we had a plan was early days Dubas/Shanny until they decided to burn the future.

3. Big middle finger to the "insiders" and the toxic speculation culture that PLAGUES OUR FAN BASE. Look at the social media reaction. Instantly trying to proclaim their expertise by dumping on it simply because it wasn't a name that was paraded by the negative news cyclone.

Management realizing they need to stop this at the source. Sooner or later people will realize 75% of the crap people talk about is meaningless BS meant to make you emotional so you click on a link.

4. He's a coach you can easily fire. We're not ready for a Cassidy. Need to build the morale back up first before you can bring in a hard ass. If it doesn't work we can move on easily.


I expect more moves out of the blue no one saw coming.