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The Official 2026 Off-Season Thread: Revenge of the Nerds

He revolutionized power plays with the Wings. Was more of a defensive minded coach with the Kings tho I believe.

And I'm pretty sure their nerdies tumbled under him.
 
Preston said:
He was one of the first data driven coaches fwiw and that's obviously why he was selected here. He founded a video tracking company a while back and is very detailed and believes in data driven decision making.

Clearly that's what got him the job.
Click to expand...
“He has always been someone that wants all the information,” said Brewer, who has been a video coach in the NHL and with Team Canada. “He’s definitely been a big analytics guy. He really understands it. That’s where his university background comes into play a little bit, too. He’s got a great understanding of data. …

“He’s extremely intelligent. He uses data and likes analytics. Like to figure out how to do it but also has the playing background. Not just standing in front of the team and throwing out numbers.”

Full article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5263893/2024/02/10/la-kings-jim-hiller-coach/
 
Preston said:
“He has always been someone that wants all the information,” said Brewer, who has been a video coach in the NHL and with Team Canada. “He’s definitely been a big analytics guy. He really understands it. That’s where his university background comes into play a little bit, too. He’s got a great understanding of data. …

“He’s extremely intelligent. He uses data and likes analytics. Like to figure out how to do it but also has the playing background. Not just standing in front of the team and throwing out numbers.”

Full article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5263893/2024/02/10/la-kings-jim-hiller-coach/
Click to expand...
Makes sense.

Surprised his name was never mentioned even once
 
I was never really concerned about this hire. Whoever it was, it was gonna be someone fully on board with using data and organizational resources, with experience and a track record to back it up, as opposed to someone just saying they love numbers just to help them get the job.

Glad this is over with. Now let's draft Gavin.


Also I'll say it again... lol insiders
 
hockeylover said:

View: https://x.com/nylanderthews/status/2067231656734241090?s=20

Twitter is unpleased
Click to expand...

It's just people who have no idea about Hiller's background. Tbh I forgot this guy existed, but he was one of the early pioneers of using a data-centric approach to coach hockey teams so this is fully in line with the kind of hire I expected. He had the Kings playing an ugly, boring style, but that's probably due to their roster construction more than his philosophy on how teams should play. People will think he's just another Berube but they are polar opposites.
 
At first blush I hate this hire. After an exhaustive search the guy we landed on was a former Leaf assistant coach under Babcock? Really?

Who since then has worked as an assistant in New York & LA, and didn’t even make it through his second season as head coach in LA before getting gassed?

Very strange. But this provides definitive proof that all of the insiders know jack shit about what the Leaf front office is doing. None of them even so much as mentioned this guy’s name at any point of the process.
 
The only thing I wanted out of the new coach was a guy that was open, eager and willing to use all organizational resources to help drive his decisions. The rest of it... Meh. I'm not as bullish on coaches being significant difference makers beyond that one small requirement. And since Chayka was making the decision here, it was sorta obvious that this would be a prerequisite.

People will be up and arms and rage but I'm not sure that isn't a waste of time.

Plus... I bet they consulted Matthews and Willy and this means they probably like the guy. Which is another bonus.
 
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