Published By: Sports Desk
Last Updated: February 03, 2024, 00:01 IST
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The Los Angeles Kings fired coach Todd McLellan on Friday and named Jim Hiller the interim coach for the remainder of the season.
LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Kings fired coach Todd McLellan on Friday and named Jim Hiller the interim coach for the remainder of the season.
“We want to thank Todd for his hard work and dedication to the organization,” vp and normal supervisor Rob Blake stated in a press release. “He has done a tremendous job in moving us forward and making a positive impact on our group and in our community. This was not an easy decision, but we felt the change was necessary at this time. Jim is a well-respected member of our staff who is familiar with our players. We are confident in his ability to lead our team effectively during this pivotal time.”
Los Angeles went into the All-Star break with the primary wild-card spot within the Western Conference, however solely 4 factors from falling out of a playoff spot.
The Kings had a 20-7-4 begin to the season, with the 44 factors tied for probably the most in group historical past after 31 video games. Since Dec. 28, they’ve gone 3-8-6. The three wins are tied for fewest within the league in that span and the 12 factors are tied for the fifth worst.
McLellan had appeared relieved that the Kings went into the break with a 4-2 win over Nashville on Wednesday.
“We still have a long way to go get our game back, but to go into the break feeling a little bit good about ourselves is a real good thing,” he stated after the sport.
An enormous purpose for the Kings’ latest stoop is lack of offense. They are averaging simply 2.35 objectives per sport of their final 17 outings, third-worst within the league.
McLellan was in his fifth season behind the Kings’ bench. He led them to the Stanley Cup playoffs the previous two seasons earlier than they have been eradicated by Edmonton within the first spherical. On Oct. 31, he grew to become the eighth coach in franchise historical past to win 100 video games and the fifth quickest to take action (219 video games).
He has a profession mark of 598-412-134 together with his 598 common-season wins rating twenty third in NHL historical past. Prior to teaching Los Angeles, McLellan spent 5 seasons with Edmonton and 7 in San Jose.
Hiller. a tenth spherical decide by the Kings within the 1989 draft, has been an assistant with the group the previous two seasons after eight seasons as an assistant with the New York Islanders, Toronto and Detroit. Prior to his NHL teaching profession, Hiller spent 12 seasons within the Western Hockey League and British Columbia Hockey League, together with 5 years as head coach with the Tri-City Americans.
McLellan is the sixth coach fired this season, following Edmonton’s Jay Woodcroft, Minnesota’s Dean Evason, St. Louis’ Craig Berube, Ottawa’s D.J. Smith and the Islanders’ Lane Lambert. Mike Babcock resigned at Columbus on the eve of coaching camp after an investigation into his follow of asking to see images on gamers’ telephones.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
