Los Angeles Kings Dismiss Coach Jim Hiller, Name D.J. Smith as Interim Replacement

The Los Angeles Kings terminated head coach Jim Hiller on Sunday following a disappointing stretch that saw the team drop five of six games and fall from playoff contention. D.J. Smith has been appointed as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings dismissed head coach Jim Hiller on Sunday following a troubling stretch that saw the team drop five of their last six contests, causing them to slip from playoff contention.

D.J. Smith has been appointed as interim head coach for the remainder of the season, marking the first coaching decision made by general manager Ken Holland, who retained Hiller when he assumed control of the front office last May. Matt Greene, previously serving as player development coach, will join Smith’s coaching staff as an assistant.

“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,” Holland said. “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.”

Hiller was completing just his second complete season leading the Kings, who appeared completely outmatched during an 8-1 defeat to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Supporters repeatedly shouted “Fire Hiller!” as the Oilers dominated the second and third periods in what became Los Angeles’ most lopsided loss of the campaign.

The previous evening, Los Angeles surrendered five goals during the final period in a devastating 6-4 defeat to an undermanned Vegas squad in both teams’ initial contest following the Olympic break. A 2-0 victory over Calgary on Saturday proved insufficient to preserve Hiller’s position.

Hiller compiled a 93-58-24 record with the Kings and secured two playoff berths, though he never advanced beyond the first round.

The 56-year-old Hiller spent years as an NHL assistant before receiving his initial head coaching opportunity when the Kings elevated him to replace the dismissed Todd McLellan in February 2024. He stabilized their campaign and guided the Kings to the playoffs, though they were eliminated in the opening round by Edmonton — matching their fate in the two previous seasons under McLellan.

Los Angeles matched franchise records for wins (48) and points (105) last season during Hiller’s first complete campaign, yet they again faced the Oilers in the first round — with Connor McDavid eliminating them once more in six games.

Hiller continued McLellan’s emphasis on defensive-minded hockey as the Kings’ core philosophy, despite sometimes producing uninspiring play for spectators.

Holland attempted to address their scoring struggles by trading for high-scoring Artemi Panarin from the Rangers before the break, but the Kings subsequently lost star forward Kevin Fiala for the season when he suffered a broken leg representing Switzerland at the Olympics.

Following consecutive defeats after the break, Los Angeles now trails Seattle by three points, with the Kraken currently holding the final wild-card playoff position in the Western Conference.

“We didn’t feel good tonight,” Hiller said immediately after the 8-1 shellacking from Edmonton. “I don’t feel good standing here. Those players don’t feel good today, but we’ve got a job to do.”

Smith previously coached the Ottawa Senators from 2019 to 2023, overseeing four seasons without playoff qualification before his dismissal 26 games into his fifth season. He joined the Kings’ coaching staff when Hiller succeeded McLellan.

Smith becomes the Kings’ fifth head coach since the 2017 dismissal of Darryl Sutter, who guided Los Angeles to its only two Stanley Cup championships.

The Kings haven’t captured a playoff series since claiming that second Cup in 2014, managing just nine total victories across six first-round eliminations.

Hiller represents only the second coach dismissed in the NHL this season. Columbus replaced Dean Evason with Rick Bowness in January.