Three and a half months after being let go by the Kings, Jim Hiller is back at the helm of an NHL team.
The Toronto Maple Leafs continued their summer of unconventional hires by announcing on Wednesday that he would be their next head coach.
Hiller joined general manager John Chayka as successors to the positions vacated by the dismissals of Craig Berube and Brad Treliving, respectively. Franchise icon Mats Sundin was also brought in as a senior advisor.
With the Kings, Hiller’s solid 105-point season gave way to playoff disaster and abject decline. Meanwhile, Chayka had not worked in this capacity since a disgraceful end to his tenure with the Arizona Coyotes in 2021, one that concluded with a suspension for him and a docked draft pick for the franchise now known as the Utah Mammoth after he and the team hosted a private scouting combine for draft prospects.
“We didn’t hire [Hiller] to satisfy a narrative or check a box, we hired based on what we believed would be best to support (the players’) growth, both individually and collectively,” Chayka said. “We hired someone who can create an environment where people are challenged, where accountability and trust can co-exist, and where players have the opportunity to maximize their abilities.”
Yet that did not describe Hiller in his second season as head coach following a partial campaign with the interim tag. Virtually every returning Kings player saw their production drop. Hiller contributed directly to a mass exodus of talent that saw Vladislav Gavrikov, Jordan Spence, Phillip Danault, Warren Foegele and Corey Perry depart a team that was purportedly a contender in exchange for either Day 2 draft picks or nothing at all.
Despite some eventual acrimony and dissatisfaction among players – Spence sought a trade after being demoted by Hiller, Gavrikov left in free agency after being deprioritized in the postseason and the situation with Danault reached the point where he set a firm deadline for a deal – Hiller said his philosophy remained focused on creating a harmonious atmosphere.
“The biggest impact a coach can have is guiding the spirit of the team. The foundation of any team is how the spirit strengthens and grows throughout the season,” Hiller said.
He will now get a fresh start in Toronto, where he had previously been an assistant under Mike Babcock, who may soon find himself stewarding the Edmonton Oilers. In that stint, Hiller ran the Toronto power play, allowing him to familiarize himself with some of the Leafs’ current core, players like Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly.
On Wednesday, Hiller described his new position as “the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Though the Leafs plummeted an Eastern Conference-worst 30 points in the standings, they still boasted stars like Matthews and Nylander, with another cornerstone on the way. They won the draft lottery and will almost undoubtedly use the first overall pick to select Penn State’s Gavin McKenna. Hiller said that harkened back to his stint in Toronto as an assistant, when they won the Matthews sweepstakes.
“It’s extremely exciting, not only for me and not only for John, but I think for all of us who are a part of and love the Leafs,” Hiller said. “It’s hard to get the generational talent players on your roster, and any time you’re picking at 1, you’ve got a great chance of doing that. I look at Auston as a shining example of that, and I’m sure he’ll be there to support whoever gets picked.”
CHROMIAK RETURNS
Winger Martin Chromiak will return to the Kings organization on a one-year, two-way contract worth up to $850,000, the team announced last week.
The 23-year-old Slovak set career highs with the American Hockey League’s Ontario Reign last season in games, goals, assists, points and more, improving his goal total double digits year-over-year. His 28 goals, 56 points, 12 power-play goals and seven game-winners led the team in 2025-26.
NEW DUDS
After the Kings got new home and road jerseys two seasons ago then unveiled a fresh alternate look this past year, the Reign didn’t lag far behind.
Ontario unveiled new uniforms last week that incorporate color blocking and design language from both the black-and-silver era of the Kings franchise and its original royal roots in forum blue and gold.
“We are thrilled with this new brand identity for the Ontario Reign,” said Kings team president Luc Robitaille in a statement. “It certainly aligns with our historic brand as we head into our 60th anniversary season this fall. This really gives the Reign their own identity while setting the stage for some things we have planned this coming season to celebrate our rich history.”