Kings HC Jim Hiller's once-promising tenure ends in disappointment

L.A. making a late postseason push looked even more unlikely after it was outscored 14-5 in its past three games since returning from the Olympic Break. During an 8-1 home loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, fans kept chanting "Fire Hiller."     

Are the Kings firing Jim Hiller too early? 

The Kings gave Hiller's predecessor, Todd McLellan (now with the Detroit Red Wings), much more time. He spent five seasons with the Kings before being fired after a 23-15-10 start during the 2023-24 season. Hiller subsequently replaced him, going 21-12-1, leading the team to the playoffs, where it lost to the Oilers in the first round. 

Hiller kept rolling during the 2024-25 season, going 48-25-9 during the regular season and tying a franchise record for points (105). However, his squad folded in the first round of playoffs against the Oilers for a second straight year. The loss marked the fourth straight season the Kings had failed to reach the second round of the playoffs.

L.A. took a 2-0 lead against Edmonton but blew it, losing the series in six games. Hiller's unsuccessful challenge of a game-tying goal in Game 3 was considered one of the series' turning points. 

This season, the team kept sliding under the coach, even though it gave him more pieces. This offseason, the Kings hired Holland, who won four Stanley Cups as Red Wings assistant GM/GM from 1997-2019. After the slow start, L.A. acquired star left winger Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers on Feb. 4.  

Hiller showed promise at the beginning of his tenure. However, the Kings — who haven't won a playoff series since the 2013-14 season — couldn't keep banking on that amid a rapid decline.