The L.A. Kings announced on Sunday the termination of head coach Jim Hiller’s contract following his two-season tenure.
D.J. Smith, who held the position of associate head coach, will assume the interim coaching duties for the rest of the current season. The Kings experienced a challenging February, marked by a sequence of five consecutive defeats, although they secured a 2-0 victory against Calgary on Saturday to break the streak. Following the Olympic hiatus, the Los Angeles team conceded 14 goals while scoring only 5 in two matches, even after the acquisition of prominent winger Artemi Panarin provided a boost.
Hiller, aged 56, was elevated to the head coaching role in 2024 subsequent to Todd McLellan’s dismissal midway through the season.
General manager Ken Holland issued a statement, saying, “I extend my gratitude to Jim Hiller for his unwavering commitment, professional demeanor, and the dedication he consistently demonstrated toward our athletes and the entire squad. He is a well-regarded coach and individual, and we acknowledge his contributions from the coaching staff. Given the current stage of the season, we are convinced that a shift in command is essential to maximize our team’s prospects of realizing its full capabilities and performing to our anticipated standards. Such choices are never made without careful thought, but it is our duty to set this team up for both immediate and future triumphs.”
Smith, 48 years old, previously served as the head coach for the Ottawa Senators across portions of five seasons (from 2019 to 2024) before transitioning to an assistant coaching position with the Kings. Holland, a revered Hall of Fame executive renowned for his pivotal role in establishing the Detroit Red Wings as a dominant force, is currently in his inaugural season as general manager for Los Angeles. Additionally, former Kings defenseman Matt Greene is being added to the coaching roster as an assistant.
On Sunday, the Kings occupied the fifth position in the Pacific Division, trailing a Western Conference wild-card berth by three points. The organization aims to capitalize on what is expected to be captain Anze Kopitar’s ultimate season in the National Hockey League, given the 38-year-old center’s September declaration of his plans to retire.
Lately, the Kings have encountered significant misfortune with injuries. Kevin Fiala’s season concluded prematurely following a severe left leg injury sustained during his Olympic participation representing Switzerland. Concurrently, an announcement on Saturday revealed that Andrei Kuzmenko would be sidelined on a week-to-week basis subsequent to an operation to mend a torn meniscus.
The Los Angeles team has qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for four consecutive years, yet they have been eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the initial round on every occasion. The Kings have failed to progress beyond the first round of postseason play since their last Stanley Cup triumph in 2014.
Hiller faced substantial scrutiny during the previous year’s playoffs due to an unsuccessful coach’s challenge concerning the Oilers’ goal that leveled the score in Game 3 of their opening-round series. Edmonton subsequently capitalized by scoring the winning goal during the subsequent power play. This unsuccessful challenge proved to be a turning point in the series. The Kings squandered a 2-0 series advantage and were subsequently knocked out after suffering four consecutive defeats.
