Jim Hiller and John Gruden trade Long Island memories for Scotiabank Arena spotlights as the former Barry Trotz protégés join forces to revitalize Toronto's new-look coaching staff.
On June 17, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they had hired former Los Angeles Kings head coach Jim Hiller to fill their head coaching vacancy.
Hiller, who was let go as the Kings' head coach on March 1, had previously spent a few seasons behind the New York Islanders' bench as an assistant coach on Barry Trotz's staff (2019-2022).
On July 7, the Maple Leafs announced the hiring of a few new assistant coaches with former Ottawa Senators star Daniel Alfredsson being named associate coach, while John Gruden and Brad Werenka were named assistants.
Mike Van Ryan and Derek Lalonde, who served on Craig Berube's staff this season, would not be returning.
Gruden, who had been head coach of the AHL's Toronto Marlies for the last three seasons, worked with Hiller on the Islanders staff.
He actually was hired shortly after Trotz came to Long Island, spending an extra season (2018-19) before Hiller joined.
The two helped the Islanders to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021.
The Leafs have gone through a ton of changes this summer in an effort to make the playoffs in the first season of the Gavin McKenna era.
