LA Kings Name Jim Hiller Assistant Coach

The LA Kings have named Jim Hiller as an assistant coach. On Todd McLellan's staff, Hiller joins assistant coach, Trent Yawney, and goaltending coach, Bill Ranford, along with video coordinator, Samson Lee, and skills coach, Derik Johnson. Hiller will primarily work with the forwards and focus on the powerplay.
Hiller, 53, most recently served in the same capacity for the New York Islanders, helping the club reach two Eastern Conference Finals. Prior to the Islanders, Hiller served on the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching staff for four seasons (2015-19). He also spent one season (2014-15) with the Detroit Red Wings, his first in the NHL.
Before joining the NHL full-time, Hiller spent 12 seasons coaching junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). He originally spent three seasons (2002-05) as an assistant coach with the WHL's Tri-City Americans before earning his first head coaching role with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the BCHL. After one season (2005-06) with Alberni, he returned to the WHL as head coach of the expansion Chilliwack Bruins.

Following three seasons (2006-09) with the Bruins, which included a pair of playoff appearances, he returned to Tri-City as head coach. While with the Americans, he led the organization to two division titles (2009-10, 2011-12), five playoff berths, a WHL Western Conference Final, and to the 2010 WHL Playoff Championship final. Following the 2011-12 season, he was tabbed WHL and CHL Coach of the Year after guiding the Americans to a 50-18-2-2 record with 104 points.
With the hire, Hiller returns to the organization that originally selected him 207th overall in the tenth round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. The forward made his NHL debut with the Kings and recorded 12 points (6-6=12) in Los Angeles before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings. He went on to skate in 63 NHL games, tallying 20 points (8-12=20) for the Kings, Red Wings, and New York Rangers.
In addition to his NHL career, Hiller played two seasons in the American Hockey League, collecting 89 points (42-47=89) in 116 appearances with the Binghamton Rangers. He also played 20 games in the IHL with the Phoenix Roadrunners (1992-93) and Atlanta Knights (1994-95). Hiller would then go on to skate six seasons (1996-2002) internationally, including five seasons in Germany with the Starbulls Rosenheim and Berlin Capitals as well as one season in Italy with the Milano Vipers. In Germany, he totaled 209 points (80-129=209) in 237 contests before adding 41 points (22-19=41) in 38 games in Italy, his final playing season.
The Port Alberni, British Columbia native attended Northern Michigan University from 1989 to 1992 after being drafted by the Kings. In his sophomore year, Hiller helped the Wildcats secure their first and only NCAA National Championship in school history, beating Boston University 8-7 in the 1990-91 season.