Confirmed with Link: Leafs Hire Jim Hiller as Head Coach

[hfman]

Not being able to implement a core strategy that would allow us to rebuild and be competitive in short order?

yup that's exactly what I said lol, the guy talks like a yes-man corporate robot tossing up word salads

we're in for it

 

[BertCorbeau]

this is interesting

It was reported that Cassidy was only interested in Toronto after LA got their coach and Edmonton moved to Babcock.

Not exactly what you want to here TBH

 

[hfman]

You're usually on the money with this stuff. You know it's going to end up the way you think it will end up. Chayka out - Leafs still in Cup drought.

sometimes. I was really off on the Marner stuff though, he had me fooled there for a bit. But it ended up being same old same olf with him.

Probably selected because we are in a state of flux, but you have to wonder if Toronto has limited its access to strong candidates, who arn't interested in joining a Chayka program.

Perhaps that doesn't extend too much to players in FA...

That's pretty much what 55+ interviews says. If they expect people to believe they went through that many interviews and never found their #1 guy until interview #56 then I don't know what else to say lol.

What it really says is that those first 55 interviews were full of some guys they didn't want granted, but also full of many guys who they really wanted but after getting a sniff of this place decided thanks but no thanks- coaches want to coach for a team that wants to win, not just fit into their cubicles, say yes to our corporate program and take a back seat to profits


They're disillusioned with this extinct idea that "everyone wants to come coach/play here and it's the biggest honor in the league to be in Toronto".. nope not anymore. This whole management core of oddball hirings and next to no experience proves it

After 55+ interviews they ended up taking what they could get

 

[Stephen]

Real Kyper reported that Auston Matthews really likes the guy from his assistant coaching days. Seems like a well spoken guy, except when he started talking about spirit of the team. That kind of talk in this day and age is a red flag.

 

[Strangle]

This proves what I thought all along, nobody in the media has a pipeline with John Chayka. Literally nobody predicted this and we have no idea what The Leafs are going to do this off-season.

I’ll tell you one guy who won’t have any contacts in the leafs HO now. Steve Simmonds

 

[ToDavid]

Who said Hiller owned an analytics company? Lol

He admitting to knowing nothing about it in his interview but is open to it.

That's not really what he said... He just said "data, information, and analytics ... I don't know what the right term is". It was more "whatever you want to call it" than "I don't know what that is".

He then went on to explicitly say that type of data "leads to better discussions and better decisions" and called it a strength of his and Chayka's and said it would be something that's really easy for him and Chayka to communicate about.

 

[Stephen]

It was reported that Cassidy was only interested in Toronto after LA got their coach and Edmonton moved to Babcock.

Not exactly what you want to here TBH

I don't think we want a desperate Bruce Cassidy looking at Toronto like Plan C. This market, this team is bigger than you Bruce.

 

[hfman]

Real Kyper reported that Auston Matthews really likes the guy from his assistant coaching days. Seems like a well spoken guy, except when he started talking about spirit of the team. That kind of talk in this day and age is a red flag.

And there you have it folks!

We're so screwed, we really are lol

 

[wingman75]

We know they aren't rebuilding, so until further notice every major move they make is with the intent to win now.

This has been pretty clear since the first Chayka presser. He was asked point blank and his answer was even more clear that he was told Matthews and Nylander are staying (for this year at least). I don't know why this would come as a shock to anyone (not saying you believed anything different).

 

[Antropovsky]

That's not really what he said... He just said "data, information, and analytics ... I don't know what the right term is". It was more "whatever you want to call it" than "I don't know what that is".

He then went on to explicitly say that type of data "leads to better discussions and better decisions" and called it a strength of his and Chayka's and said it would be something that's really easy for him and Chayka to communicate about.

Right thanks for correction I was watching it while distracted and only caught the part where he said he wasnt sure what its called.

 

[Niagara Bill]

It was reported that Cassidy was only interested in Toronto after LA got their coach and Edmonton moved to Babcock.

Not exactly what you want to here TBH

And Kyper knows this how?

 

[wingman75]

And there you have it folks!

We're so screwed, we really are lol

I take spirit as meaning creating a culture that encourages and puts people in a position to have success. That doesn't happen today like it did when he played... he is a stubborn old goat.

Only an idiot would say that is a red flag...

 

[Niagara Bill]

I’ll tell you one guy who won’t have any contacts in the leafs HO now. Steve Simmonds

He will be the only credible source, the rest will be kissing his a??

 

[ToDavid]

Real Kyper reported that Auston Matthews really likes the guy from his assistant coaching days. Seems like a well spoken guy, except when he started talking about spirit of the team. That kind of talk in this day and age is a red flag.

His LA teams played an extremely tight system. And he did explicitly say "the systems will be in place" in that answer.

I took it more to mean "the systems are the easy part, the hard part is getting the team to buy into it and do to that you have to get the players to want it."

 

[Strangle]

And there you have it folks!

We're so screwed, we really are lol

We could have had Doug Armstrong and Peter laviolette

I’m kind of interested to see how this goes. At least it’s new and different and it feels like they’re building up to something tangible.

There seems to be a cohesive plan, and that’s at least something I like.

I won’t shit on it until I get to see how the rest of the offseason and next year goes

 

[Kurtz]

I take spirit as meaning creating a culture that encourages and puts people in a position to have success. That doesn't happen today like it did when he played... he is a stubborn old goat.

Only an idiot would say that is a red flag...

You don't understand man, it's actually really terrible that AM likes a coach that we hired because of... reasons.

 

[Antropovsky]

Real Kyper reported that Auston Matthews really likes the guy from his assistant coaching days. Seems like a well spoken guy, except when he started talking about spirit of the team. That kind of talk in this day and age is a red flag.

I disagree, I think spirit of team is very important. Look at Rod Brindamour, hes running around talking like hes Tony Robbins with his motivational speeches to his players:

"So you guys who've already been here, You should know what im saying before I say it..if ive done my job...because Its not just words...the words have come to life, there in your blood (slaps veins in forearm)"

 

[Stephen]

I take spirit as meaning creating a culture that encourages and puts people in a position to have success. That doesn't happen today like it did when he played... he is a stubborn old goat.

Only an idiot would say that is a red flag...

It's a red flag because he was asked about his tactical approach and he peddled good vibes instead. That's a Ted Lasso game plan.

 

[Kazparov]

What's with all the hate around this hiring??? By all accounts he had the Kings punching well above their weight. He actually ran a very effective PP here in Toronto too not long ago.

Are people seriously that obsessed to see another dinosaur hiring in here? This was a horrible move with Berube, I'm glad they're not making the same mistake again.

Fans are fed a toxic speculation news cycle.

So they repeat this in an attempt to signal their knowledge and expertise.

Think it makes them sound smart but they're mostly a bunch of sheep

 

[Gallagbi]

It's a red flag because he was asked about his tactical approach and he peddled good vibes instead. That's a Ted Lasso game plan.

Seems like his tactical approach would be somewhat adaptable depending on the roster. That feels....reasonable, no?

I'll add that I didn't see the comment or discussion you're referencing, just various posts about his approach in a few different areas

 

[Stephen]

His LA teams played an extremely tight system. And he did explicitly say "the systems will be in place" in that answer.

I took it more to mean "the systems are the easy part, the hard part is getting the team to buy into it and do to that you have to get the players to want it."

The inference would be you're trying to get them to play in a way that doesn't suit their strengths.

End of the day, he's not a coach who comes with a lot of track record or pedigree so he's got a lot to prove.

 

[Stephen]

Seems like his tactical approach would be somewhat adaptable depending on the roster. That feels....reasonable, no?

I'll add that I didn't see the comment or discussion you're referencing, just various posts about his approach in a few different areas

But wouldn't you say that someone on high in the Leafs organization could point in a general tactical direction, which the GM will be building the roster for, and the newly hired coach would have a strong sense of how the 2027 Leafs should look and feel?

 

[thewave]

I disagree, I think spirit of team is very important. Look at Rod Brindamour, hes running around talking like hes Tony Robbins with his motivational speeches to his players:

"So you guys who've already been here, You should know what im saying before I say it..if ive done my job...because Its not just words...the words have come to life, there in your blood (slaps veins in forearm)"

The Leafs haven't established the identity bit he touched on. Unless they want to be a team that gets pushed around, our tenders screamed at in the face from 3 inches away.

 

[Gallagbi]

But wouldn't you say that someone on high in the Leafs organization could point in a general tactical direction, which the GM will be building the roster for, and the newly hired coach would have a strong sense of how the 2027 Leafs should look and feel?

what direction would you want them to take tactically? And what are you implying the lack of an answer suggests about his abilities?

 

[Buckley]

A player mutiny with 8 games to go?

I guess you put it on your Resume with a size 3 font size?

Is Cassidy the only coach to ever be fired? There was no "player mutiny" on Long Island when Roy was fired? No player mutiny against Woodcroft in Edmonton? How about Hiller? No player mutiny against him with 20 games left in the season?