The slumping Los Angeles Kings fired head coach Todd McLellan on Friday.
The Kings won only three of their last 17 games (3-8-6) before the current NHL All-Star break.
Assistant coach Jim Hiller was named the interim coach for the rest of the season.
McLellan, 56, joined Los Angeles in 2019-20 and was 164-130-44 in four-plus seasons.
“We want to thank Todd for his hard work and dedication to the organization,” Kings general manager Rob Blake said in a statement. “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.”
The Kings (23-15-10, 56 points) are in fourth place in the Pacific Division and seventh in the Western Conference.
McLellan has a career record of 598-412-134 in parts of 16 seasons behind the bench with the San Jose Sharks (2008-15), Edmonton Oilers (2015-18) and Kings.
Hiller, 54, joined the Kings in July 2022 after stints as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders (2019-22), Toronto Maple Leafs (2015-19) and Detroit Red Wings (2014-15).
–Field Level Media
