Maple Leafs hire Jim Hiller as head coach

The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Jim Hiller as their new head coach, making him the 41st person to hold the role in franchise history. Hiller, 57, returns to Toronto after serving as an assistant coach with the team from 2015 to 2019. Hiller said his focus will be on team culture, player buyin, and creating a style of play the roster can embrace. He also pointed to analytics as a useful tool for improving decisions and discussions inside the organization. The hiring comes during a broader offseason reset led by new general manager John Chayka, who said Hiller’s familiarity with the market and the organization helped make him the right choice. Hiller most recently coached the Los Angeles Kings, where he posted a 935824 record over parts of three seasons.