Confirmed with Link: Leafs Hire Jim Hiller as Head Coach

[Suntouchable13]

Based on what Chayka said, Cassidy is not a good fit here. They want someone who relates better with the players. That's not a bad thing, as long as he is not just buddy buddy with the "star" players. Didn't look like to me Chayka had much interest in Cassidy.

 

[TheRumble]

Hillier is a recycled name, not my preferred choice BUT:

- Those are JVR's goals in his final season as a Leaf. Notice the powerplays and 6v5 goals. Those were Hillier's designed as he was the PP coach at the time. That Leafs PP was the most unique PP system devised in years. No point shot, no one timer threat and utterl y predictable and it was widely considered the league's most dangerous powerplay. The only reason it was neutered is because Babcock at the time insited on giving each PP unit a minute of ice time. Also noteworthy that ithe second PP unit was the third most dangerous in the league. Downside: Hillier also designed the 2018-19 PP which kinda sucked despite on paper having better players.

The 1-3-1 thing in LA: When he landed in LA, Doughty and Kopitar wanted to continue to compete the team probably should have been building towards a new era. They made some trades and signings in an attempt to win now while hoping that the guys they drafted would hit their ceilings; they didn't and as a result, LA was kind of a weird team made up of old players from an bygone era and underwhelming prospects. Hillier is a Babcock disciple who - for all his warts, was actually a pretty innovative and forward thinking coach when it came to developing systems. He'll llikely be running a 1-2-2 forecheck here, which is what Sheldon Keefe ran in his last season here and what Babcock also ran.

 

[LeafEgo]

Right, so as many surmised Toronto did interview Cassidy during the playoffs, and they obviously decided that Hiller would be a better fit for them. I can't begrudge that, even if Cassidy might objectively be a better coach.

Did they interview or was it just permission?

Cassidy may have not made good sense for this team right now but you have to wonder, 'only' Toronto eh?

With Vegas's reputation, the recent public spat between both parties, Chayka, kinda funny

 

[Stephen]

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

I'm implying Keith Pelley floof talk about alignment and synergy vs actually talking hockey shop. Cause he could have just said a more up tempo, puck possession style to suit the talent on the roster and that would have been enough of a pendulum swing away from Berube hockey. But he has to peddle good vibes first?

 

[Antropovsky]

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.

Yea worst identity in the league without a doubt.

 

[Gallagbi]

I'm implying Keith Pelley floof talk about alignment and synergy vs actually talking hockey shop. Cause he could have just said a more up tempo, puck possession style to suit the talent on the roster and that would have been enough of a pendulum swing away from Berube hockey. But he has to peddle good vibes first?

Feels like you're reaching to things, but I'll try to catch the interview.

 

[Leaf Fans]

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.


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

They took who they thought was the best coach for this team.

 

[wingman75]

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

Right, right, yes, sorry.

 

[thewave]

I'm implying Keith Pelley floof talk about alignment and synergy vs actually talking hockey shop. Cause he could have just said a more up tempo, puck possession style to suit the talent on the roster and that would have been enough of a pendulum swing away from Berube hockey. But he has to peddle good vibes first?

Pelley is a corporate stooge. He talks the talk and knows all the buzz words. He hired guys just like him and together they will spin wheels and likely go nowhere.

 

[wingman75]

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.

Good vibes per 60 is way underrated around here.
I find it hard to be critical of a guy from what he says in his first presser in a zoom call.

 

[Leaf Fans]

And there you have it folks!

We're so screwed, we really are lol

Matthews likes the coach.

 

[Saint Sundin]

Definitely not who I, or anyone was expecting, yet it automatically makes a lot more sense when you consider the familiarity he likely has with Matthews and Nylander. People will rag on him for being a "retread" since he just got fired by LA last season yet ignore that he was working with a pretty destitute roster that still just barely limped into the playoffs with Smith in charge. He still managed to secure points in over 60% of games by the time he was canned. I'm certainly open to giving him a fair shot. Still would have preferred Woodcroft, yet this is also still a far better hire than Roy or Eakins would have been.

 

[Stephen]

Feels like you're reaching to things, but I'll try to catch the interview.

It's just weird to me.

 

[Leaf Fans]

It's just weird to me.

View attachment 1255706

What made it weird to you?

 

[Stephen]

Good vibes per 60 is way underrated around here.
I find it hard to be critical of a guy from what he says in his first presser in a zoom call.

Well, you can make a negative first impression, what can I tell you?

 

[Stephen]

What made it weird to you?

He was asked about play style and he basically said it's TBD and it was more about spirit and tactics are interchangeable. Would you not have talked about play style in the interview that landed the job? Would the GM hiring the coach not have explained the roster he planned to build, and both come to an agreement? What did the Leafs talk to the other 50 candidates about and ruled them out over? Do you see evidence of a process?

 

[Leaf Fans]

He was asked about play style and he basically said it's TBD and it was more about spirit and tactics are interchangeable. Would you not have talked about play style in the interview that landed the job? Would the GM hiring the coach not have explained the roster he planned to build, and both come to an agreement? What did the Leafs talk to the other 50 candidates about and ruled them out over? Do you see evidence of a process?

Yeah, I watched it. It was like a normal interview from my perspective. That's why I asked for your viewpoint.
I don't know anything about the process iany ideas would be guesses. No "insider" info.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I don’t really care for any pressers .. most hockey ones are just lip service to the media that doesn’t really mean much

 

[Stephen]

Yeah, I watched it. It was like a normal interview from my perspective. That's why I asked for your viewpoint.
I don't know anything about the process iany ideas would be guesses. No "insider" info.

He seems like a well spoken guy and relaxed in the interview, but we need more meat on the bone in terms of what the hockey vision is, a hint of the braintrust taking the team into a different play style direction, taking into consideration what's on the roster. Specifics.

What we got was basically, the group needs better vibes and play more motivated. We haven't decided on the play style. Really?

 

[Leaf Fans]

He seems like a well spoken guy and relaxed in the interview, but we need more meat on the bone in terms of what the hockey vision is, a hint of the braintrust taking the team into a different play style direction, taking into consideration what's on the roster. Specifics.

What we got was basically, the group needs better vibes and play more motivated. We haven't decided on the play style. Really?

Perhaps but the new management doesn't reveal anything. Would be nice to know for sure.

 

[Superstar]

Not sure I really buy the Lavi stuff. Hiller was never even mentioned once yet we're supposed to believe these reports? Hiring Lavi also doesn't really check out with what Chayka and co seem to want to be doing philosophically.

I think they are going from writing about Marner to trash Toronto, to writing about another potential coach not hired to trash Toronto....you can't unsee it once you see it.

 

[centipede2233]

In hiker’s only full season 2024/25 he coached that kings team to a 105 point season. 1 point behind Dallas, 4 pts better than Colorado. Quite impressive.

Personally I think people above him had unrealistic expectations. Hiller was set up to fail on a kings team that was never going to compete for a cup

 

[Roo]

We should give them the benefit of the doubt and let the results do the talking. He can be a perfectly fine coach. He got decent results out of a less talented team. If he is able to get the most out of the players, that’s all you can ask for from a coach.

 

[3blizzard4]

The more I think about this the more I love this hire.

I think this will work out very well for this Leafs team.

We are going to be pleasantly surprised.

 

[baton elevated]

Do we have any idea who his assistants will be? This may be a more critical view point. Some young sharp minds to run the PP and penalty kills. Ahokas would be a great hire as an asst.