Was Jim Hiller the right hire for the Leafs?
There has already been a lot of debate about the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ recent decision.
On Wednesday, the team announced that former Los Angeles Kings head coach Jim Hiller has been hired to be the team’s new bench boss. While Hiller has had some success, he has never been able to lead his teams deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Yet, Hiller does have familiarity with a lot of the core on this team, having been an assistant coach under Mike Babcock in Toronto.
On Wednesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton discussed whether Hiller was the right guy for the job in Toronto.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Where this makes sense. He has an analytical background, which you would imagine plays pretty well with the new Leafs GM, John Chayka, and he reportedly has a good relationship with Auston Matthews. So, if we’re starting with the pros, I think we start with those two facts.
Carter Hutton: I think that is where you go, is the analytics. I’m sure that lit up the page for Chyaka when they’re interviewing them and they’re going through this process, and then the other factor is he’s dealt closely with these superstar players. These are years where they had offensive success, which is important. My concern, I guess, it’s underwhelming in the sense of, when you’re talking about a team that’s hiring their coach in the Mecca of Toronto, and then the Chayka surprise with Sundin, which is a little more shock and awe. You thought this would be like a big-name hire.
I’m not going to be quick to judge this one, because my concern still with the Toronto Maple Leafs is going to be this team and their structure and the roster and where they’re at. He likes to want to like run a 1-3-1. It’s a little bit more boring. Is that going to affect the way they play? Does that affect their offense? I also think the factor of his relationship with Auston Matthews becomes the front and center here, like trying to get him going. This team will not go without an Auston Matthews at his full potential. An interesting hire, and I do like the fact that he’s been with the Leafs too. I don’t think the overwhelmingness of this market is going to get to him.
You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…