The Kings have fired Jim Hiller and named D.J. Smith interim head coach for the remainder of the season, the team announced Sunday.
The firing came the morning after the Kings ended a five-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Calgary Flames. The team is in fifth place in the Pacific Division with 62 points and a record of 24-21-14, and would not make the NHL playoffs if the regular season ended Sunday.
“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 Vice President and 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.”
Smith, 48, in his second full season as associate coach of the Kings. He joined the organization on Feb. 5, 2024, after serving as head coach of the Ottawa Senators from 2019-24. Smith also served as an assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015-19, spending four seasons behind the bench alongside Hiller before being hired by Ottawa.
Prior to his NHL coaching career, the Windsor, Ontario native spent a decade coaching in the Ontario Hockey League
Hiller was named interim coach of the Kings on Feb. 2, 2024, replacing the fired Todd McLellan. He was named coach on a permanent basis on May 22 of that year. He was previously an assistant coach with the New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.
The Kings’ next game is Monday night, when they host the Colorado Avalanche at Crypto.com Arena. The Avalanche have the best record in the NHL.