D.J. Smith named new head coach after firing of Jim Hiller by the LA Kings
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Jim Hiller is fired, D.J. Smith takes over as interim, and the Los Angeles Kings just made their loudest move days before the NHL trade deadline.
Elliotte Friedman reported the coaching change, with Smith stepping in behind the Kings bench.
The timing is ruthless. Deadline week is when every loss feels like it forces a trade.
This also flips the pressure onto the room right away, because the system and the effort level get judged instantly under a new voice.
It puts the front office in a tricky spot too, because the next call on a rental winger or depth center now has to fit Smith's preferences.
D.J. Smith is 48, drafted in 1995, second round, by the New York Islanders, and he has already coached a full NHL bench in Ottawa.
D.J. Smith and the Los Angeles Kings bet on urgency
Kings fans are tense but also desperate for a jolt, because the last stretch has felt like hockey on hard mode.
Smith's fastest win is simple. Quicker breakouts, shorter shifts, and a man advantage that shoots first instead of overthinking.
Now we see how the Kings respond in their next game, because that first period under an interim coach usually tells you everything.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 1|157 ANSWERS D.J. Smith named new head coach after firing of Jim Hiller by the LA Kings Should the Los Angeles Kings keep D.J. Smith as head coach after this interim run? | ||
| Yes | 74 | 47.1 % |
| No | 83 | 52.9 % |
| List of polls | ||