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Sports Desk • Hockey

Jim Hiller

Jim Hiller is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger and coach.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Jim Hiller is a Canadian former NHL winger and current head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, he played 63 NHL games before transitioning to coaching.

Playing career

Hiller played junior and university hockey before turning professional. Drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1989, he appeared in 63 NHL regular-season games with the Kings, Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers. He also spent time in minor leagues and later played in Europe, including Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga and Italy's Serie A.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player, Hiller began coaching in junior hockey before becoming an NHL assistant coach. He worked with multiple teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015 to 2019. In 2022, he joined the Los Angeles Kings' coaching staff, becoming interim head coach in February 2024 and later full-time head coach through the 2025-26 season.

Toronto Maple Leafs appointment

In June 2026, the Toronto Maple Leafs named Hiller as their head coach. The move marked a return to the organization where he had previously served as an assistant coach. Hiller's hiring was seen as a key step for the team's future, leveraging his experience as both a former player and head coach in the NHL.

In short

  • Drafted by LA Kings in 1989, played 63 NHL games.
  • Coached LA Kings as interim and full-time head coach in 2024.
  • Hired as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs in 2026.
  • Previously served as assistant coach for Maple Leafs from 2015-2019.
Canadian angle

Hiller is Canadian and from Port Alberni, British Columbia. He also coached and played for several Canadian hockey organizations, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and junior teams in Western Canada.

Quick questions

Who is Jim Hiller?
Jim Hiller is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former NHL winger from British Columbia.
What teams did Jim Hiller play for in the NHL?
He played for the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers.
How many NHL games did Jim Hiller play?
He played 63 NHL regular-season games.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hiller
    Supports: General biography, coaching career, NHL roles, European playing career.
  2. NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/fr/player/jim-hiller-8456597
    Supports: Date and place of birth, physical data, draft information.
  3. Toronto Maple Leafs / NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-name-jim-hiller-41st-head-coach-in-franchise-history
    Supports: 2026 appointment as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs and prior Kings head-coaching role.
  4. Northern Michigan University — https://nmuwildcats.com/news/2024/2/2/mens-ice-hockey-jim-hiller-named-la-kings-head-coach.aspx
    Supports: Kings interim head coach appointment, assistant coaching history, NMU championship and hall of fame note.
  5. Los Angeles Times — https://www.latimes.com/sports/hockey/kings/story/2024-05-22/kings-jim-hiller-interim-head-coach-full-time
    Supports: Full-time Kings head coach appointment, playing background, and coaching history.