The Los Angeles Kings made a late-season coaching change that has raised questions about their timing and direction. The move came after a difficult stretch that pushed the team out of a playoff spot for now.
One loss stood out, but the decision was based on more than one result. The situation also pointed back to a familiar opponent that has troubled the Kings for years.
Oilers’ Impact Becomes Central to Kings’ Coaching Decision
The Los Angeles Kings fired head coach Jim Hiller on Sunday, following a run of poor results that left the team searching for answers. The final push came after an 8-1 home loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Feb 26, a game where the Kings struggled in all areas and drew loud reactions from fans inside the arena.
That defeat came one night after the Kings lost a third-period lead against a short-handed Vegas team, which added to the concern around the group’s recent play.
The Kings had dropped five of their last six games and slipped outside a wild-card position in the Western Conference. Even a shutout win against Calgary did not change the direction of the decision, as the recent stretch had already raised concerns within the organization.
The Oilers have also been a major factor in the Kings’ struggles over the past few seasons. Edmonton has eliminated Los Angeles in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in four straight years from 2022 through 2025.
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The most recent series added more pressure, as the Kings took a 2-0 lead before losing four straight games, which brought more attention to coaching decisions and in-game management.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman spoke about the situation on 32 Thoughts and pointed to the timing of the move. He said, “I know everybody talks about the 8-1 loss to the Oilers, and that was really bad, no question about it. But Kyle, I think also the one the night before when they were facing that depleted Vegas team, and they led going into the third period and they lost, I think those two back-to-back, they’re killers.”
Friedman also talked about Kevin Fiala’s Olympic injury and said, “Yeah. Well, the Fiala injury is out of their control. Like, I mean, what can they do? But you can control maybe you’re going to lose, but you’ve got to play better than you did in those two games against the Golden Knights and the Oilers.”
Friedman also mentioned the bigger picture, including the importance of finishing the season well with captain Anze Kopitar nearing the later stages of his career. He noted that teams may also look at how results late in the season can affect the future of the organization.
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Following the move, associate coach D.J. Smith was named interim head coach for the rest of the season. Hiller finished with a 93-58-24 record in the regular season but did not win a playoff series during his time with the team. The Kings remain close in the standings, but their recent form has raised questions about their chances.
On the other side, the Oilers are in the playoff race despite a rough stretch in the season of their own. Their latest win over Los Angeles not only ended their own losing streak but also added another chapter to a matchup that has often gone in Edmonton’s favor.
