In a surprising move, Los Angeles Kings' head coach Todd McLellan has been relieved of his duties after four and a half seasons with the team. General manager Rob Blake made the announcement on Friday, expressing his gratitude for McLellan's hard work and dedication to the organization.
Although not an easy decision, Blake believed that a change was necessary at this time. With McLellan out, assistant coach Jim Hiller has been named interim head coach for the rest of the season. Hiller, a former Kings player drafted in 1989, joined McLellan's coaching staff in the summer of 2022. He brings experience as a head coach at the major junior level and as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Islanders.
Hiller finds himself tasked with turning around a Kings team that has struggled for nearly two months. After a strong start to the season, where they boasted a .761 points percentage and won all 11 of their road games, the Kings' performance took a nosedive. They went 7-11-7 in their next stretch of games, ranking 29th in the NHL with a points percentage of .420.
The team's struggles were highlighted by defenseman Drew Doughty's candid criticism of his teammates, suggesting that some players were too focused on personal stats rather than the team's success. McLellan took responsibility for the team's plight but expressed hope that the Kings could recapture their earlier form.
As a veteran coach with previous stints with the San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers, McLellan had joined the Kings in 2019. During his tenure, he amassed a record of 164-130-44 in 338 games, leading the Kings to the playoffs in 2022, breaking a three-year playoff drought. However, they were eliminated in the first round in both 2022 and last season.
At the time of his firing, McLellan was one of the highest-paid coaches in the NHL and was the fifth longest-tenured coach in the league. He was in the final year of a five-year contract that paid him $5 million per year. Despite the team's recent struggles, their underlying statistics suggested they were more of a first-half team.
Hiller becomes the seventh new coach to take over an NHL team since training camps opened last September. The coaching carousel seems to be in full swing this season, with several teams making changes in search of better results.
Following McLellan's departure, the Kings went 1-1-1 on a three-game road trip, culminating in a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators as McLellan's last game. With the All-Star break approaching, Hiller will make his NHL head coaching debut on February 10th when the Kings face the Edmonton Oilers at home.
Only time will tell if Hiller can guide the Kings back on track and help them regain their early-season success. In the meantime, the coaching change signifies a significant shift within the organization as they hope to find renewed momentum and push for a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference.
