Kings Fire Coach Jim Hiller Amid Team's Ongoing Struggles

The Kings fired coach Jim Hiller connected Sunday amid ongoing struggles that person put nan team’s playoff hopes successful a perilous spot.

The Kings named subordinate coach D.J. Smith nan interim caput coach for nan remainder of nan season.

“I want to convey Jim Hiller for his dedication, professionalism, and nan committedness he showed to our players and our squad each day. He is simply a respected coach and person, and we admit nan activity he’s done down our bench,” Kings wide head Ken Holland said successful a statement. “At this constituent successful nan season, we judge a alteration successful activity is basal to springiness our group nan champion opportunity to scope its imaginable and compete astatine nan level we expect. These decisions are ne'er made lightly, but our work is to position this squad for occurrence now and moving forward.”

After starring nan Kings to a franchise-best 48 wins and 105 points successful his first afloat play arsenic coach, Hiller grounded to replicate that occurrence pinch a squad that has appeared unorganized and undisciplined for overmuch of nan season.

The Kings were expected to do amended successful captain Anze Kopitar’s last campaign, but they are successful threat of missing nan playoffs for nan first clip successful 5 seasons. Coming disconnected nan Olympic break, nan Kings mislaid their first 2 games, including an 8-1 nonaccomplishment to nan Edmonton Oilers that prompted chants of “Fire Hiller” from fans astatine Crypto.com Arena.

The Kings defeated nan Calgary Flames 2-0 connected Saturday, ending a five-game losing streak.

The roster constructed by Holland has struggled to score. The Kings are hopeful nan acquisition of Artemi Panarin from nan New York Rangers will jump commencement their offense, but pinch Quinton Byfield struggling and Kevin Fiala retired for nan remainder of nan season, nan Kings stay 1 of nan NHL’s astir goal-starved teams.

Hiller, 56, took complete erstwhile nan Kings fired Todd McLellan during nan 2023-24 season. And though he took nan squad to nan playoffs, nan Kings mislaid to nan Oilers successful six games.

The teams met successful a playoff rematch past spring, but aft nan Kings won nan first 2 games astatine home, Hiller made a number of costly decisions successful nan 2 games successful Edmonton, some of which his squad lost, and nan Oilers went connected to destruct nan Kings successful nan first information for a 4th consecutive season.

Kings president Luc Robitaille expressed assurance successful Hiller aft nan playoff setback and Holland retained Hiller aft he was hired arsenic wide manager.

In December, Holland gave his coach different ballot of support.

“I expect him to beryllium present nan remainder of nan season,” he said.

This is simply a processing story. The Times will person much soon connected Hiller.