Maple Leafs Name Jim Hiller New HC to Replace Craig Berube Ahead of 2026 NHL Draft

Jim Hiller has been tasked with trying to help the Toronto Maple Leafs bounce back from the most disappointing season of the Auston Matthews era.

The Leafs announced Wednesday that Hiller has been named the 41st head coach in franchise history.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman first reported Hiller and the Leafs were close to an agreement.

Hiller, 57, is a former Leafs assistant who most recently served as head coach of the Los Angeles Kings.

He was fired March 1 after posting a 93-58-24 regular-season record and 3-8 postseason record in three seasons.

"[Hiller] has worked with successful teams throughout his career, connects well with players and brings a clear approach behind the bench," Leafs general manager John Chayka said in a statement. "We believe he's the right person to lead our team and help us reach our goals."

Hiller will succeed Craig Berube, who was fired in May after the Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

The Leafs had previously parted ways with former general manager Brad Treliving before hiring Chayka as his successor.

Chayka said in a previous statement Berube's firing was "more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig."

Berube left Toronto having led the Leafs over two seasons to a 164-84-62 regular-season record (.567 points percentage) and a trip to the second round.

Hiller will now be tasked with leading the Leafs into their next era, staring with selecting the No. 1 pick when the 2026 NHL draft takes place this June.

The Leafs last drafted first when selecting Matthews in 2016, starting a stretch of nine consecutive playoff runs with the team's core of Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Morgan Reilly.

Despite consistent regular-season success, the Leafs started out that span with six straight opening-round exits.

Toronto finally made it to the second round in both 2023 and 2025, only to get bounced before the Eastern Conference Final both times.

Marner, who led the Leafs with 102 points in 2024-25, walked in free agency after that second-conference final elimination.

The Leafs were unable to find a player to replace his production last offseason, leading to the team going 32-36-14 and missing the playoffs this spring.

One reason both for the Leafs' struggles and Berube's firing was a decline in even-strength production from Matthews, a three-time Rocket Richard winner who recorded a career-low 27 goals in 60 games last season.

Hiller's ability to structure an offense that can both help Matthews succeed and bolster the development of the incoming top pick will be key to the Leafs' hopes of climbing back into the playoff picture in 2027.

Prior to taking on his first head coaching role in Los Angeles, Hiller gained assistant coaching experience with the Kings, Islanders and Leafs.

He previously worked with the Leafs from 2015 to 2019, a span that included Matthews' first three NHL seasons under former head coach Mike Babcock.