Kings fire Jim Hiller, name D.J. Smith interim coach

The Los Angeles Kings fired head coach Jim Hiller, vice president and general manager Ken Holland announced Sunday.

Hiller, 56, had been the head coach since the 2024 season after taking over on an interim basis. Los Angeles is 24-21-14 and in fifth place in the Pacific division.

Associate coach D.J. Smith will take over as head coach for the rest of the season. Smith was hired in 2024 after spending the previous five seasons as the head coach of the Ottawa Senators.

The Kings have lost five of their last six contests, including an 8-1 defeat to the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 26. They sit three points outside the Western Conference wild-card picture.

Los Angeles ranks 29th in goals for and 25th in goals allowed through 59 contests. They made a move to acquire Artemi Panarin in early February, who later signed a two-year, $22-million extension after only wanting to be traded to the Kings. The 34-year-old forward has logged three assists in three contests since joining L.A.

Hiller finishes his Kings coaching career with a 93-58-24 record in 175 regular-season games.