Kings remove interim tag, name Jim Hiller head coach

Field Level Media|published: Wed 22nd May, 14:27 2024

NHL: Los Angeles Kings at Carolina Hurricanes

Jan 31, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Los Angeles Kings head coach Todd McLellan goes off the ice with assistant coach Jim Hiller after their loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the overtime at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Kings removed the interim tag and named Jim Hiller as the club's 30th head coach in franchise history on Wednesday.

Multiple media outlets reported Hiller agreed to a multi-year contract.

The Kings fired Todd McLellan on Feb. 2 and tabbed Hiller as the team's interim head coach. Under Hiller's watch, the Kings finished the regular season on a 21-12-1 run before falling in five games to the Edmonton Oilers in their Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Los Angeles was 23-15-10 under McLellan this season.

Hiller, 55, joined the Kings in July 2022 after stints as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings (2014-15), Toronto Maple Leafs (2015-19) and New York Islanders (2019-22).

As a player, Hiller recorded 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) and 116 penalty minutes in 63 career games with the Kings, Red Wings and New York Rangers. He was selected by the Kings in the 10th round of the 1989 NHL Draft.

--Field Level Media