After spending 21 years behind various benches, Jim Hiller finally gets his shot with the Kings. What factors contribute to his potential success in this new role?
In El Segundo, California, Jim Hiller warmly embraced the undeniable connection between his playing days and his newly acquired NHL head coaching position.
On October 6, 1992, a young 23-year-old Hiller made his debut with the Los Angeles Kings, stepping onto the ice three years after being selected as a 10th-round draft pick from Northern Michigan University. During his time there, he excelled as a star right wing, contributing to the university's sole NCAA men's hockey championship victory during his sophomore year.
Now, at the age of 54, Hiller is set to lead the Kings from behind the bench for the first time, with his coaching debut scheduled against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. This marks the fulfillment of a long-held dream to helm an NHL team, albeit initially with an interim tag. Hiller couldn't help but recognize the poetic symmetry of the moment.
"After running his first practice on Thursday, Hiller expressed, "I don’t know how many people have done that, but it’s pretty special to me, I can promise you that."
While Hiller's NHL playing career spanned only 63 games, he transitioned into a respected coaching career. Over the course of 10 seasons, he served as an assistant coach for four NHL teams: Detroit, Toronto, the Islanders, and the Kings (since 2022). Prior to that, he spent 12 years in Canadian junior hockey, including eight seasons as a head coach in the Western Hockey League.
Hailing from Port Alberni, British Columbia, Hiller has certainly paid his dues. However, this opportunity comes at the expense of Todd McLellan, whom Kings general manager Rob Blake dismissed on February 2nd. Such is the nature of the coaching business—associations are formed, bonds are forged, and opportunities arise for some while doors close for others. For Hiller, it's his responsibility now, at least for the remainder of the season. Though a long-held dream is being realized, Hiller finds himself in a bittersweet moment.
Reflecting on his promotion, Hiller remarked, "It wasn’t the moment that I expected, as far as emotionally. And, so, I got to work through that. Todd’s a friend of mine and he’s a heck of a coach. And I learned a lot from it. … Nobody would be doing jumping jacks if that happened to one of their friends. It was emotional. Todd treated my family extremely well. My boys, he was so warm and kind to them. Really enjoyed them. It wasn’t like you might expect. That’s all I’m going to say."
With 34 games remaining, the Kings currently occupy a wild-card playoff spot. However, their form during the 3-8-6 slump that led to McLellan's dismissal hardly reflected that of a contending team. Should they fail to secure a playoff berth, it's almost certain that further changes will follow—potentially even involving general manager Rob Blake. As for Hiller, his tenure as interim coach is unlikely to extend into a permanent head coaching role.
Nevertheless, there are individuals firmly in Hiller's corner who believe he can thrive in this opportunity of a lifetime.
"You don’t know how many opportunities you’re going to get, or you don’t know how life is going to go, so you just have to take advantage of every opportunity you get,” remarked Andrew Brewer, who spent eight years on the staffs of Detroit, Toronto, and Florida. “He’s going to do great. I’m excited to see him get the opportunity.”
In his inaugural news conference, Hiller didn’t delve deeply into line-combination changes or systems. Instead, he focused on rebuilding confidence and getting the Kings back to the mental state they were in during the first third of the season when they ranked among the NHL’s point-percentage leaders.
“We were a really good team,” he asserted. “I’ll say it like this: We are a really good team. We have struggled. We’re not going to hide from that. But I think it would be a mistake to overreact in some areas of the game when I don’t think that’s necessary.”
Throughout his NHL assistant coaching career, Hiller earned a reputation for possessing a keen offensive mind. He often worked with power plays, first under Mike Babcock in Detroit and Toronto before joining the New York Islanders, where he served under Barry Trotz. Hiller's impact was immediately felt upon joining the Kings last season, as the team's power play surged from 27th in the league to fourth.
“I think he knows what works, what doesn’t work,” remarked D.J. Smith. “And I think he’s at the age and the point in his life where he knows what kind of teams need certain things. Obviously, he’s always been on the offensive side of things, but he knows that when you keep the puck out of your net, that’s the best chance to win.”
Hiller's first move as head coach was to bring on D.J. Smith, who served as head coach of the Senators for over four seasons until his dismissal on December 18th, as an assistant. The two previously worked together on Babcock’s staff with the Maple Leafs, forging a close relationship over four years. Their camaraderie can bring positivity to the Kings after a turbulent period.
Hiller described Smith by saying, “He could be a stand-up comedian, but he’s one of the sharpest hockey guys that I’ve worked with.”
“One thing with Jimmy, he likes to have a good laugh,” Smith told The Athletic before joining the Kings. “And I don’t know what it’s like in L.A., but not every room is jovial. I think a guy like Jimmy is going to bring a little bit of that humility to the room, and that can be something that gets them over the top.”
While crediting McLellan for his tenure's success, Kings center Phillip Danault likened the firing to a situation where “sometimes you get a storm and it’s just to clear the path.” Danault, along with others, praised Hiller for his communication skills, noting, “You work hard but you want to have fun. Got to mix in a little bit of both. I think Jimmy is going to be good for that.”
Brewer, reflecting on his time in Toronto with Hiller, remarked, “He’s a relationship-building guy. I think he had fantastic relationships with all the players that he’s coached through the years, whether it’s Auston Matthews or Pavel Datsyuk or (Henrik) Zetterberg. He’s coached some real Hall of Fame (level), top, top NHL players. He’s always been able to build a relationship and find a way to work together. So, I think he’s going to do a great job.”
The Kings adopt an analytical approach to hockey, which harmonizes with the human and emotional aspects of the game—a philosophy that aligns with Hiller's strengths. During his tenure coaching the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, Hiller co-founded TruPerformance, a video-tracking company offering detailed player game breakdowns, with former Northern Michigan teammate Brad Werenka, a defenseman who played for four NHL clubs. “He was very much into the analytics at a time when it was just beginning,” commented Tri-City general manager Bob Tory in 2017. “He did a lot of work and research on that.”
Brewer, who has experience as an NHL video coach and with Team Canada, attested, “He has always been someone that wants all the information. He’s definitely been a big analytics guy. He really understands it. That’s where his university background comes into play a little bit, too. He’s got a great understanding of data. … He’s extremely intelligent. He uses data and likes analytics. Like to figure out how to do it but also has the playing background. Not just standing in front of the team and throwing out numbers.”
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Transitioning from a supporting role to a leadership position is a significant shift, involving responsibilities like regular meetings with club executives, managing media interactions, and making crucial personnel and tactical decisions for the team's success. Smith understands this transition well and firmly believes in Hiller's ability to handle these challenges while remaining true to himself.
According to Smith, the key lies in emphasizing the importance of winning to the players and making tough decisions when necessary. He advocates for authenticity, asserting that genuine leadership resonates most with players. Smith highlights the significance of a fresh perspective, suggesting that sometimes a different voice can catalyze change and motivate players.
Brewer underscored the fact that the Kings are not in a rebuilding phase and still have a genuine shot at making the playoffs. Drawing on past experiences, such as Andrew Brunette taking over the Florida Panthers mid-season and leading them to win the Presidents' Trophy, Brewer emphasizes the potential for success despite recent setbacks.
Now, Hiller stands at a pivotal moment in his coaching career, determined to restore the team's confidence and swagger. His goal is to recapture the momentum that propelled the Kings to an impressive start to the season, despite their recent struggles.
Smith echoes this sentiment, expressing his belief that Hiller is capable of restoring the team's swagger and guiding them back to success.
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