The Los Angeles Kings have hired Jim Hillier as an assistant coach, replacing Marco Sturm, who went on to coach the Ontario Reign, the AHL affiliate of the Kings.
Hillier,53, comes to Los Angeles as a former player and has a wealth of experience. His primary role will be to work with the forwards and power play units, something he is familiar with. He joins coach Todd McLellan, assistant coach Trent Yawney, and goaltending coach Bill Ranford on the Kings coaching staff.
Hillier spent 8 seasons as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Islanders. He has improved the power play of every team he has been a part of within two seasons of arriving and he looks to continue that trend in Los Angeles, where the power play was less than stellar. Hillier has a strong record of improving power plays.
Hillier played for Los Angeles during the 1992/93 season, posting 6 goals and 6 assists for 12 points and 90 penalty minutes in 40 games.
This is a good hire for the Kings. Last season the Kings took big strides in their future and became a playoff team, being ousted by the Edmonton Oilers. They look to make even more moves toward a Stanley Cup this year, acquiring forward Kevin Fiala and hopes to improve a power play that was lackluster with the addition of Hillier.
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(photo:theleafsnation.com; Ryan Fancey) (photo:thehockeywriters.com;Matt Rothman)
