"I'm excited to have the opportunity to join the Maple Leafs coaching staff," said Hakstol, who will work under coach Mike Babcock. "I look forward to building relationships with the players and getting to work with the entire group."
The 50-year-old spent the past four seasons as coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. He went 134-101-42 in 277 regular-season games and 4-8 in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Hakstol was fired by the Flyers on Dec. 17, 2018, and replaced by Scott Gordon after starting the season 12-15-4. Gordon was replaced by Alain Vigneault, who was hired as Flyers coach April 15.
Prior to being hired by Philadelphia, Hakstol coached 11 seasons at the University of North Dakota, where he had a 289-143-43 record and advanced to the Frozen Four seven times, the most of any program during that span. He was an eight-time finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award as the NCAA Division I men's hockey coach of the year.
The Toronto assistant position became available after Jim Hiller left to become an assistant with the New York Islanders on June 19.
The Maple Leafs (46-28-8) finished third in the Atlantic Division this season and were defeated by the Boston Bruins in seven games in the Eastern Conference First Round.
