With Jim Hiller Fired, Who is Heavily-Favored to Coach Los Angeles in 2026? Who is the Leading Candidate to Replace Jim Hiller?
Full Story on Hiller Being Fired as Los Angeles’s Head Coach
The Kings have been one of the NHL’s top performing teams in the Western Conference. Los Angeles has now made the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fourth straight season, the longest streak since 2009-2014. But despite the club’s regular season success, each of the last four postseason trips have ended in first round exits. After the league returned from the Milano Cortina Olympics break, the Kings were outscored 14-5 in two games. So therefore, Los Angeles fired Jim Hiller after over two seasons on the job. Assistant coach D.J. Smith will take over the team on an interim basis.
At the time of the announcement, the L.A. club was out of the Western Conference’s final wild card spot by one point (66). Even though they made a major coaching change, the Kings stayed busy around the NHL Trade Deadline. The front office acquired Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers and traded Corey Perry to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Also to keep in mind that captain Anze Kopitar is planning to retire at the end of this season.
Jim Hiller’s Career with the Los Angeles Kings
Hiller took over as the leading man in Tinseltown in early 2024 after the dismissal of Todd McLellan. The former guided the Kings to two playoff appearances in 2024 and 2025. However, the organization has not won a postseason series since defeating the Rangers in the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals. Believe it or not , Los Angeles is one of the couple NHL teams that have never won a division title along with the Oilers and Kraken. Overall, Jim Hiller compiled a 93-58-24 record and 3-8 in the playoffs.
Before becoming the Kings’ head coach, Hiller served as the assistant coach for L.A. from 2022 until January 2024. He also had assistant roles with the following clubs: Islanders (2019-2022), Maple Leafs (2015-2019), and Red Wings (2014-2015). The former Kings leader guided the Isles to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals trips in 2020 and 2021. He also took Toronto to three Stanley Cup playoff appearances and Detroit one postseason berth. Hiller did have prior head coaching experience with the Tri-City Americans during the 2009-2010 season. The Americans went on to play in the Memorial Cup that year, but lost to the Calgary Hitmen.
What’s Next for the Los Angeles Kings?
Many Kings basketball fans might wonder: Who is the leading candidate to replace Jim Hiller in 2026? The top coaches in consideration listed in this article have prior coaching experience. In addition, those candidates have been on the coaching staff for at least five years. Please refer to the information below for the list of top candidates to replace Hiller as Los Angeles Kings Head Coach!
Possible Candidates to Replace Jim Hiller as Los Angeles HC
Internal Candidates
D.J. Smith-Los Angeles
- Windsor Spitfires Assistant Coach (2005-2010)
- Windsor Spitfires Associate HC (2010-2015)
- Oshawa Generals HC (2012-2015)
- Maple Leafs Assistant Coach (2015-2019)
- Senators HC (2019-2023)
- Kings Assistant Coach (2023-2026)
- Kings Interim HC (2026-Present)
- Led Windsor to Memorial Cup Wins in 2009 & 2010
- Also Took Oshawa to Memorial Cup Championship in 2015
- Three Stanley Cup Playoff Appearances with Toronto
- Two NHL Postseason Berths with Los Angeles
Top Head Coach Candidates for Los Angeles Kings to Consider
Ray Bennett-New York Islanders
- Red Deer College HC (1997-1999)
- Kings Assistant Coach (1999-2006)
- Blues Assistant Coach (2007-2017)
- Avalanche Assistant Coach (2017-2025)
- Islanders Assistant Coach (2025-Present)
- Won Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022
- Also Led St. Louis to 2016 Western Conference Finals
- Three NHL Postseason Appearances with Los Angeles
- Seven Stanley Cup Playoff Berths with Blues
- Eight NHL Postseason Trips with Avalanche
Gerard Gallant-Shanghai Dragons
- Blue Jackets Assistant Coach (2001-2004)
- Blue Jackets HC (2004-2006)
- Islanders Assistant Coach (2007-2009)
- Saint John Sea Dogs HC (2009-2012)
- Canadiens Assistant Coach (2012-2014)
- Panthers HC (2014-2016)
- Golden Knights HC (2017-2020)
- Rangers HC (2021-2023)
- Shanghai Dragons HC (2025-2026)
- Won Memorial Cup with Saint John in 2011
- Guided the Golden Knights to 2018 Stanley Cup Finals
- Also Took New York to Eastern Conference Finals in 2022
John Tortorella-Philadelphia
- Lightning HC (2000-2008)
- Rangers HC (2009-2013)
- Canucks HC (2013-2014)
- Blue Jackets HC (2015-2021)
- Flyers HC (2022-2025)
- Won Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004
- Led Columbus to 1st Ever Playoff Series Win in 2019
- Winningest Head Coach in Blue Jackets History
- Helped New York Reach Eastern Conference Finals in 2012
Dan Bylsma-Seattle
- Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Assistant Coach (2004-2005)
- Islanders Assistant Coach (2005-2006)
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins HC (2008-2009)
- Penguins HC (2009-2014)
- Sabres HC (2015-2017)
- Red Wings Assistant Coach (2018-2021)
- Charlotte Checkers Assistant Coach (2021-2022)
- Coachella Valley Firebirds HC (2022-2024)
- Kraken HC (2024-2025)
- Won Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009
- Also Coached Penguins in 2013 Eastern Conference Finals
- Guided Charlotte to Division Championship in 2021-2022
Leading Candidate to Replace Jim Hiller as Kings HC in 2026
Peter DeBoer-Dallas
- Plymouth Whalers HC (1995-2001)
- Kitchener Rangers HC (2001-2008)
- Panthers HC (2008-2011)
- Devils HC (2011-2014)
- Sharks HC (2015-2019)
- Golden Knights HC (2020-2022)
- Stars HC (2022-Present)
- Two OHL Finals Appearances with Plymouth
- Won Memorial Cup with Kitchener in 2003
- Helped San Jose Reach 2016 Stanley Cup Finals
- Also Coached New Jersey in 2012 Stanley Cup Finals
- Two Western Conference Finals with Sharks
- Three Western Conference Finals with Dallas
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