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Pressure now falls on Rob Blake after coaching change

Originally posted on Hockey Royalty | By Russell Morgan | Last updated 2/5/24

On a rainy Monday morning, a perfect illustration of the state of the LA Kings franchise, general manager Rob Blake met with the media to discuss the decision to fire head coach Todd McLellan and appoint Jim Hiller as the interim manager for the remainder of the season.

Blake opened the presser echoing the team’s statement released last Friday and added, “This was done in an effort to correct the way we’ve played of late, our offense our defense our overall game. Individuals and the team have not been up to our level of needs.”

During their current skid, multi-goal leads turned to devastating losses, alternate captain Drew Doughty called out his teammates, and the much-maligned PL Dubois continued to find himself in the cross-hairs for his effort or lack thereof.

As much as we talk about McLellan’s lineups and player deployment, Blake’s roster decisions haven’t translated to on-ice success. With Todd gone, it is now his turn to sit in the hot seat.

“It’s my responsibility to hire Todd, it was my responsibility to let him go the other day. I fully understand the repercussions if this team does not win or have success.”

After a 16-4-4 record to start the year, the Kings were amongst the top teams when mentioning Stanley Cup contenders. Since then, the club is 7-11-6 and finds themselves battling for a wild card spot.

“Everything we dictate from this point and going forward is based on wins and losses,” stated Blake. If the losses continue to pile up, Rob Blake will have to look for his own sword to fall on.

“A different approach”

The Kings now turn to Jim Hiller to right the ship and salvage what once was a promising season. After many years working as an assistant in the NHL with the Red Wings, Maple Leafs, and Islanders before his stint in LA, this will be Hiller’s first go as a head coach in the league.

“Jim will have a much different approach in all aspects.” As to what that includes Rob Blake elaborated, “It’s a different person in charge. Meetings are different. Meeting times are different. Approaches to the game. Every single thing will be different when a new person steps in.”

Blake wouldn’t go into specifics on what that different approach could mean as far as the system, including the 1-3-1, but one would expect changes in the lineups and players’ roles. “A lot of times we make recommendations and things but I’ve always let the coach make those decisions,” said Blake.

Hiller, who was brought in during the summer of 2022 to help with the team’s power play struggles, is viewed as an offensive coach with a fond appreciation of analytics’ role in the game of hockey.

Before the start of his coaching career, Hiller started an analytics company called TruPerfomance with former NHLer Brad Werenka. That new perspective caught the eye of then Red Wings coach Mike Babcock and is what ultimately led to his hire on the Detroit staff.

The LA Kings return from the All-Star break on Thursday for their first practice since the coaching change. Whatever changes are in store will have to wait until then.

This article first appeared on Hockey Royalty and was syndicated with permission.

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