This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
The Kings fired coach Jim Hiller on Sunday amid ongoing struggles that have put the team’s playoff hopes in a perilous spot.
The Kings named associate coach D.J. Smith the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Smith was the Ottawa Senators’ head coach for four and a half seasons from 2019 to 2023. He went 131-154-32 in Ottawa before being fired in December 2023.
Kings player development coach Matt Greene will serve as an assistant coach under Smith, the team said.
“I want to thank Jim Hiller for his dedication, professionalism, and the commitment he showed to our players and our team every day. He is a respected coach and person, and we appreciate the work he’s done behind our bench,” Kings general manager Ken Holland said in a statement. “At this point in the season, we believe a change in leadership is necessary to give our group the best opportunity to reach its potential and compete at the level we expect. These decisions are never made lightly, but our responsibility is to position this team for success now and moving forward.”
After leading the Kings to a franchise-best 48 wins and 105 points in his first full season as coach, Hiller failed to replicate that success with a team that has appeared unorganized and undisciplined for much of the season. Hiller went 93-58-24 for a Kings franchise that hasn’t won a playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014.
A roster constructed by Holland and his predecessor, Rob Blake, has struggled to score. The Kings are hopeful the acquisition of Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers will jump-start their offense, but with Quinton Byfield struggling (13 goals, 33 points) and Kevin Fiala out for the remainder of the season, the Kings remain one of the NHL’s most goal-starved teams. They rank 29th in average goals per game (2.53).
The Kings were expected to do better in captain Anze Kopitar’s final campaign, but they are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. Coming off the Olympic break, the Kings dropped their first two games, including an 8-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday that prompted chants of “Fire Hiller” from fans at Crypto.com Arena.
The Kings defeated the Calgary Flames 2-0 on Saturday, ending a five-game losing streak.
“We’ve just got to flat-out perform better,” Kopitar told reporters after practice Sunday. “It wasn’t good enough. It wasn’t consistent enough. We’re looking for a jolt here and a spark to get our game together.”
Speaking to reporters Sunday, Holland said the Kings’ struggles on defense in losses to Seattle and Vegas before the Olympic break, coupled with the losses to Vegas and Edmonton last week convinced him Friday he needed to fire Hiller. Holland said he “tried to wait as long I could.”
Through 59 games, the Kings (24-21-14) are three points outside the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference heading into Monday’s game against the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche.
The Kings have one of the NHL’s easier schedules over their final 23 games. They play the last-place Vancouver Canucks three times, and 14 of their 22 games after Monday are against teams currently not in a playoff spot. That said, most of those teams will be playing with more desperation as they look to make the playoffs — and some could look a lot different after Friday’s trade deadline.
Hiller, 56, took over when the Kings fired Todd McLellan during the 2023-24 season. And though he took the team to the playoffs, the Kings lost to the Oilers in six games.
Kings
Amid chants of “Fire Hiller!” from the fans at Cypto.com Arena, the Kings lose to Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers 8-1 for their fifth straight loss.
The teams met in a playoff rematch last spring, but after the Kings won the first two games at home, Hiller made a number of costly decisions in the two games in Edmonton, both of which his team lost, and the Oilers went on to eliminate the Kings in the first round for a fourth straight season.
Kings president Luc Robitaille expressed confidence in Hiller after the playoff setback, and Holland retained Hiller after he was hired as general manager.
In December, Holland gave his coach another vote of support.
“I expect him to be here the rest of the season,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Us
Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and hockey for the Los Angeles Times. He has covered seven World Cups, five Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog.
Kings
Kings
Kings
Kings
Subscribe for unlimited access
Site Map
Follow Us
MORE FROM THE L.A. TIMES
Hockey News