Jim Hiller

James Andrew Hiller (born May 13, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the head coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hiller played 63 games in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers, while spending time in the American Hockey League (AHL) and International Hockey League (IHL). He finished his career playing overseas in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany and Italian Serie A. Upon retiring, Hiller began a coaching career in the junior leagues, and later served as head coach of the Kings in the NHL.

Playing career Hiller was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia. After playing Junior A hockey for the Melville Millionaires, major junior in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Prince Albert Raiders, Hiller was drafted in the tenth round, 207th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1989 NHL entry draft. Upon being drafted, Hiller began a three-year college ice hockey career with Northern Michigan University. NMU won the 1991 NCAA title in Hiller's sophomore year. Following an 86-point campaign with Northern Michigan in a 41-game 1991–92 season, his third with the university, he turned pro with the Los Angeles Kings.

During his rookie season, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings and completed his rookie season in 1992–93 with 20 points in 61 games split between the two teams. The next season, in 1993–94, Hiller joined the New York Rangers, but played only two games in the NHL, spending his tenure with the organization in the minor leagues with Binghamton Rangers of the American Hockey League (AHL) and Atlanta Knights of the International Hockey League (IHL).

After one season with the Canadian national team, Hiller went overseas to play in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga with the Star Bulls Rosenheim in 1996–97. He finished second in league scoring in his third and final campaign with the club in 1998–99 with 67 points in 52 games, two points behind Martin Jiranek of the Nürnberg Ice Tigers. In 1999–2000, Hiller began a two-season stint with the Berlin Capitals, after which he spent one final season with HC Milano of the Italian Serie A before retiring.

Coaching career

Minor leagues After retiring in 2002 from his playing career, Hiller immediately began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Tri-City Americans of the WHL for two seasons. In 2004–05, he was named head coach of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), where he coached two seasons and posted records of 32–20–6–2 and 43–12–3–2 respectively. The next season, he was selected to coach the expansion Chilliwack Bruins back in the WHL. He coached the franchise to playoff berths in their first two seasons, but after missing the post-season in his third year with the club, he was fired.

Later in the 2009 off-season, he was named head coach of the Tri-City Americans. In 2010 the Americans reached the WHL championship series but lost to the Calgary Hitmen. Hiller received WHL and CHL coach of the year honors for the 2011–12 season.

NHL On July 30, 2014, Hiller was hired by the Detroit Red Wings as an assistant coach under Mike Babcock, overseeing the power play.

After one season in Detroit, Hiller followed Mike Babcock to the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he also had responsibility for the power play.

On June 19, 2019, the New York Islanders announced Hiller would be joining their coaching staff as an assistant under Barry Trotz. One month after the Islanders fired Trotz and replaced him with Lane Lambert, Hiller was also relieved of his duties on June 9, 2022.

On July 19, 2022, Hiller was hired as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Kings under Todd McLellan. On February 2, 2024, Hiller was named interim head coach following the firing of McLellan. Under Hiller, the Kings made the playoffs and lost to the Edmonton Oilers in five games. Following the 2023–24 season on May 22, Hiller was named the Los Angeles Kings' head coach. During the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs in game 3 of the first-round series against the Oilers with the Kings having a 2–0 series lead, Hiller made a coach's challenge call on Evander Kane's game-tying goal that was an unsuccessful challenge and that was criticized by the media. The Oilers ended up winning the game 7–4, and ultimately went on to win the next three games, eliminating the Kings for the fourth consecutive season. Despite being eliminated against the Oilers in the 2025 playoffs, new general manager Ken Holland announced that Hiller would remain as head coach of the Kings for the 2025–26 season.

On March 1, 2026, the Kings fired Hiller after the team compiled a 24–21–14 record, including a 2–5–1 record in Hiller's final eight games. Associate coach D. J. Smith was named interim head coach.

On June 17, 2026, Hiller was named the 41st head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, replacing Craig Berube.

Personal Hiller's wife is Kathy Hiller, who is from Marquette, Michigan. They have raised Kathy's three children.

Career statistics Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1986–87 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 3 0 0 0 12 — — — — — 1987–88 Melville Millionaires SJHL 60 38 49 87 190 — — — — — 1988–89 Melville Millionaires SJHL 29 24 37 61 49 — — — — — 1989–90 Northern Michigan University NCAA 39 23 33 56 52 — — — — — 1990–91 Northern Michigan University NCAA 43 22 41 63 59 — — — — — 1991–92 Northern Michigan University NCAA 41 31 55 86 119 — — — — — 1992–93 Los Angeles Kings NHL 40 6 6 12 90 — — — — — 1992–93 Detroit Red Wings NHL 21 2 6 8 19 2 0 0 0 4 1992–93 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL 3 0 2 2 2 — — — — — 1993–94 New York Rangers NHL 2 0 0 0 7 — — — — — 1993–94 Binghamton Rangers AHL 67 27 34 61 61 — — — — — 1994–95 Binghamton Rangers AHL 49 15 13 28 44 — — — — — 1994–95 Atlanta Knights IHL 17 5 10 15 28 5 0 3 3 8 1996–97 Star Bulls Rosenheim DEL 47 22 27 49 187 3 0 1 1 45 1997–98 Star Bulls Rosenheim DEL 42 8 19 27 83 — — — — — 1998–99 Star Bulls Rosenheim DEL 52 23 44 67 65 — — — — — 1999–2000 Berlin Capitals DEL 48 16 16 32 90 6 3 1 4 38 2000–01 Berlin Capitals DEL 48 11 23 34 87 5 2 2 4 14 2001–02 Milano Vipers Italy 38 22 19 41 83 9 4 10 14 0NHL totals 63 8 12 20 116 2 0 0 0 4

Head coaching record Team Year Regular season Postseason G W L OTL Pts Finish W L Win % Result LAK 2023–24 34 21 12 1 (43) 3rd in Pacific 1 4 Lost in first round (EDM) LAK 2024–25 82 48 25 9 105 2nd in Pacific 2 4 Lost in first round (EDM) LAK 2025–26 59 24 21 14 (62) (fired) — — — —Total 175 93 58 24 3 8 2 playoff appearances

Awards and honours Award Year All-WCHA Second Team 1991–92 AHCA West Second-Team All-American 1991–92 Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award 2011–12