D.J. Smith is getting a second chance to be a National Hockey League head coach.
The former Ottawa Senators head coach will take over the top duties with the Los Angeles Kings on an interim basis after the club announced on Sunday that Jim Hiller has been shown the door.
Smith, 48, was hired to be an associate coach with the Kings after being fired by the Senators mid-way through the 2023-24 campaign. His task will be to help Los Angeles reach the playoffs after being handed the reins by general manager Ken Holland on Sunday morning.
The Kings are three points out of the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference after a 2-0 win over the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Holland said in a statement that a change had to be made. The Kings are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games and are preparing to face the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night at home.
“I want to thank Jim Hiller for his dedication, professionalism, and the commitment he showed to our players and our team every day. He is a respected coach and person, and we appreciate the work he’s done behind our bench,” said Holland
“At this point in the season, we believe a change in leadership is necessary to give our group the best opportunity to reach its potential and compete at the level we expect. These decisions are never made lightly, but our responsibility is to position this team for success now and moving forward.”
During his nearly five years behind the Senators’ bench, Smith finished with a 131-154-32 record and helped lead the club through a difficult rebuild. The club had lost four straight and was 11-15-0 when Smith was let go on Dec. 18 2024, by Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and GM.
This won’t be an easy day for Smith. He has a long history with Hiller, having worked together as assistants with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was Hiller who brought Smith to Los Angeles when he took over the Kings coaching job in 2025.
bgarrioch@postmedia.com