The Los Angeles Kings have dismissed head coach Jim Hiller and named associate coach D.J. Smith as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. General manager Ken Holland announced the change following recent poor performances by the team. Player development coach Matt Greene will join Smith as an assistant.
The Los Angeles Kings announced on Sunday that they have relieved Jim Hiller of his duties as head coach after three seasons with the team. Hiller, who took over on February 2, 2024, following the dismissal of Todd McLellan, compiled a record of 93-58-24 during his tenure. In the current season, the Kings stand at 24-21-14, placing them fifth in the Pacific Division and three points behind the Seattle Kraken for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.
The decision came after a string of tough losses, including an 8-1 defeat to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, where fans chanted "Fire Hiller!" during the second and third periods, and a 6-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday after the Kings had led 4-1. A 2-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Saturday was not enough to save Hiller's job. The team ranks 26th in power play efficiency at 16.3 percent, 28th in penalty kill at 75.7 percent, 29th in goals per game at 2.53, and has a 9-13-7 record at Crypto.com Arena this season.
Ken Holland, who became general manager last May and retained Hiller at that time, explained the move in a statement: "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. 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."
D.J. Smith, 48, steps in as interim head coach. He joined the Kings on February 5, 2024, after serving as head coach of the Ottawa Senators from 2019 to 2023, where he posted a 131-154-32 record before being fired on December 18, 2023. Previously, Smith was an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015 to 2019, working alongside Hiller. Before his NHL coaching career, Smith spent a decade in the Ontario Hockey League, contributing to back-to-back championships with the Windsor Spitfires in 2009 and 2010.
The Kings, who feature Swedish players Adrian Kempe and Jacob Moverare, hope the change provides a spark in their push for a playoff spot. They face the Colorado Avalanche on Monday.
