Kings fans show no mercy to now-fired head coach Jim Hiller
Photo credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Fans of the Los Angeles Kings who had longed for a change in leadership behind the bench got their wish today, and they're celebrating the news that Jim Hiller is no longer the head coach of their team.
The news that fans of the Los Angeles Kings had been wanting to hear for months, especially after their disastrous finish to last year's opening round playoff series against the divisional foe Edmonton Oilers, finally happened today.
Kings GM Ken Holland announced that head coach Jim Hiller had been relieved of his duties and that assistant DJ Smith would be taking over on an interim basis for the rest of the year.
The news was met with overwhelming positivity by Kings fans, many of whom loved the change in leadership and looked forward with excitement of what could be in store for the team that hasn't won a playoff series since their most recent Stanley Cup win in 2014.
The Kings Fired Jim Hiller And Promoted Assistant DJ Smith
Earlier today, Kings GM Ken Holland said that even though the decision to make a coaching change wasn't easy, he believes it was necessary for the team to realize its full potential.
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. 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. - Ken Holland
Hiller leaves the Kings having gone 93-58-24. The Kings, who have lost four years in a row in the first round to the Oilers, infamously blew a two-game lead last spring, and one of the major controversies was an ill-advised coaches challenge by Hiller that had the effect of completely changing the series around.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 2|166 ANSWERS Kings fans show no mercy to now-fired head coach Jim Hiller Are the Kings making the right call by firing Jim Hiller? | ||
| Yes | 119 | 71.7 % |
| No | 47 | 28.3 % |
| List of polls | ||