Confirmed with Link: Leafs Hire Jim Hiller as Head Coach

[HEAVY DUTY]

God what a garbage hire. Chayka and Sundin looked at the Kings playoff woes and said this is the man to lead the Leafs?

They took this long just to hire this dude? Really? An exercise in futility, nothing more.

The only positive I take from this is that there will be no more leaks from the org. Not one insider had this guy interviewing or as a potential candidate.

 

[sxvnert]

Might as well have kept Berube ffs.

 

[WTFMAN99]

https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/maple-leafs-name-jim-hiller-as-coach/article_49a820b0-aacf-4358-94a9-023149a6059b.html

.600 winning percentage last two years…Good?

Look at the Pacific division during his tenure, damn near 20 wins guaranteed between the Sharks, Kraken, Canucks, Flames and Ducks.

 

[The Iceman]

Try again.

That team had a solid D core and forwards who could buy in

Lol

FORWARDS THAT BOUGHT IN......damn coach making the forwards buy-in, he must suck.

 

[BallardEra]

So the Leafs hired a GM that no other team had on their radar and now a HC that nobody had on their radar.

Interesting times at MLSE.

 

[leafs in five]

If the best things we can say about the moves are that we didn't see them coming, that probably says it all.

I'm not saying it's good or bad, I'm saying it's different.

 

[rumman]

I never said I knew anything on the coaching front. I just thought it would be Cassidy because it made the most sense for what the Leafs want to do - i.e., win now - relative to a guy like Pavelski. Hillier was certainly not on the bingo card.

FYI, the crow pie is in the oven, hope your hungry.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Your two best players liking the coach is kinda important so I don’t see why. Is no the exact same thing happening in Edmonton right now. You also don’t think coaches have been hired or fired or retained at the request of players all over the league? Come on now.

You think that’s the key to success? I wouldn’t look at Edmonton at how to do things. You’re missing the point. It’s Toronto Maple Leafs first not Auston and Willy first. If that was the deciding factor we’re cooked.

 

[The Iceman]

View attachment 1255333

Might as well have kept Berube ffs.

True
Berube was a rock star. Team really was working well with him.

 

[Fogelhund]

A sign and trade then is fine.
I suspect that’s the only realistic option.

I think Matthews struggles next year and his tanked value doesn’t increase.

You don't think the sun is coming up tomorrow... so there is that.

 

[Sypher04]

I don’t have any strong support or objection to this hire. I generally do subscribe to the idea if he’s back then 34 and 88 were onboard (I actually think if they weren’t consulted about a potentially returning coach that’d be a problem), he’s been assistant under many successful head coaches which is nice, he’s done reasonably well with frankly mediocre teams, but mostly I don’t think past coaching philosophy should be the be all end all if there any areas concern.

Coaches obviously have preferences on how the game should be played, but good coaches adapt their systems and style of play to maximize the potential of the team they have. Hopefully he can bend where he needs to.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

A sign and trade then is fine.
I suspect that’s the only realistic option.

I think Matthews struggles next year and his tanked value doesn’t increase.

I think he gains some value by being healthy for a full season and scoring over 40 goals. That puts him in a prime spot for a sign and trade next summer.

 

[Nineteen67]

mirtle says hes a big analytics guy

Hillier must have cited a number at some point because those caveman that cover the Leafs for the Athletic have no clue about analytics and how they’re used.

 

[Rare Jewel]

I'll be curious to see what happens with the rest of the staff. Do they try to bring in Pavelski and/or Giordano? Lalonde and Sullivan probably are ok in the roles they had?

Does Hiller try to bring in DJ Smith again?

He and Andrew Brewer are pretty tight as well, and Brewer is one of the more interesting guys you hear talk about hockey as well.

Babcock was a nutter, but he knew what was good or interesting.

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

After it came out yesterday that Torts wouldn't be back for Vegas, he's the guy I wanted

 

[HamiltonNHL]

You don't think the sun is coming up tomorrow... so there is that.

Pretending for 59 years is a disease.
I diagnose and plan

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Wow. I guess the insiders really don’t know anything. Talk about out of left field.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

After it came out yesterday that Torts wouldn't be back for Vegas, he's the guy I wanted

That would be fun

 

[The Iceman]

0/2 so far imo. hoping for something redeeming.

I would be willing to bet you didn't know Andrae was second on Philly in +/- before yesterday.
+15

And you couldn't tell me how many years Hiller has coached consecutively in the NHL.
*12

 

[613Leafer]

So my initial reaction was.... WTF?!?!

Looking more closely though, he had pretty mediocre rosters in LA (no superstar players, mediocre goaltending, aging Doughty/Kopitar, etc), and got them into the playoffs at least, and has a good WHL record going back to his previous HC experience.

Ultimately though, I'm skeptical, he wouldn't have been in my top 5 list of choices, and I'm hoping that he'll look better with a better roster (assuming we can put together a better roster than LA).

 

[The Masters]

 

[tp71]

I'm not sure if Im underwhelmed...but its likely at the very least at the bottom of the barrel in terms of whelmed...just kind of an "alright...?" position.

 

[Buckley]

FYI, the crow pie is in the oven, hope your hungry.

Yup. I sure would have preferred Cassidy, but who knows.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

I think he gains some value by being healthy for a full season and scoring over 40 goals. That puts him in a prime spot for a sign and trade next summer.

That would be a miracle.
I think we should play run and gun pond hockey just for that scenario

 

[francis246]

Your two best players liking the coach is kinda important so I don’t see why. Is not the exact same thing happening in Edmonton right now. You also don’t think coaches have been hired or fired or retained at the request of players all over the league? Come on now.

I don’t even think it’s so much as like, it’s more so you want your players to have familiarity and be comfortable. Think about it Hiller was here when they were in their development years, so he’s seen them grow and he’s probably had a ton of conversations with them over the years on how they can adapt their game for the pro level. So that’s one part of the equation that’s already taken care of