Kings' Hiller: 'We should have won the series' after taking early lead

[Herby]

That was definitely not the point I was trying to make.

I apologize, I don't really care to listen to the man who has driven my favorite sports team into the ground and set the franchise back likely a decade and a half, speak for 20 minutes, especially when I know how untruthful everyone in the organization is to the media and fans. That was the first thing I heard that sounded relevant to the conversation, so I assumed that was the point you were making.

Can you give me a cliff version of the point you wanted to make? Or direct me to the point in the video.

Thanks

 

[FSL KINGS]

wow, that's some horrible shit - how the hell did he squeeze 105-points out of that??

Outside of qualifying for the playoffs & getting the team ready for the playoffs, the regular season doesn't matter. 105 point season is meaningless now. Didn't even get a banner.

Hiller thought he could win with 3 forward lines, 2 D pairs, turtling the 3rd & not playing physical to wear the other team down. 3 of the first 4 games were close & the King's were cooked by game 5. Hiller believing this strategy was going to lead to success is shocking. Before this serries I thought Hiller might be able to grow & become a better coach in a couple years. After the serries, there isn't enough of a foundation with Hiller to build anything on.

I don't hate Hiller, he probably is the most likeable coach the Kings have had, but that also is possibly a con all on its own. I sort of like that he is forthright with his opinions and blunt about his assessments. He has convictions about his decisions, argues them well, and makes some good decisions that does deserve some credit for getting home ice advantage in the regular season.

However, in the end, he just makes very questionable decisions in the most clutch situations and dangerously mismanages his bench. His reliance on vets while double-shifting them endlessly until they can't even move anymore and then hiding his roster depth, which was one of the team's biggest strengths heading into the postseason, is mind-boggling. He's not the worst coach the Kings have ever had, and while I was against his hiring he did do some things and performed a little better than I had expected in the regular season while somehow being worse than I thought he could be in the postseason.

Unfortunately, he's gotta go with BLuc and the house needs to be completely cleaned. Fans have no say, so they aren't going to green light another rebuild, but they had to at least consider a heavy retooling. Kopitar needs to be on the third line with limited to no special teams, and Drew has to be on the 2nd pairing or less with maybe 2nd unit special teams capacity with restricted minutes. Byfield and Clarke need to be given a long leash and they gotta make some tough choices about their vets and possibly move some for younger players/assets.

Hiller seems like a good guy & is likable. Just no clue what he's doing.

 

[MonkeysUncle]

Kings' Hiller: 'We should have won the series' after taking early lead

Los Angeles Kings head coach Jim Hiller lamented how his club let a promising 2-0 series lead over the Edmonton Oilers slip away after being eliminated Thursday night."100%, it's a missed opportunity. It's very clear it's a missed opportunity for us," Hiller said, per NHL.com's Gerry Moddejonge...

thescore.com

Get this clown out of the org yesterday

No kidding Jim, but you got in the way..

How long can Ownership continue with putting average people to run a a premier franchise in the nhl. Just making the playoffs and out in first round 4 years straight is not good enough, especially since management tried to sell that this team was built the Oilers

 

[CarlSneep]

I was reading about

I apologize, I don't really care to listen to the man who has driven my favorite sports team into the ground and set the franchise back likely a decade and a half, speak for 20 minutes, especially when I know how untruthful everyone in the organization is to the media and fans. That was the first thing I heard that sounded relevant to the conversation, so I assumed that was the point you were making.

Can you give me a cliff version of the point you wanted to make? Or direct me to the point in the video.

Thanks

Lombardi was a lot more fun because every answer was like playing 2 truths and a lie with him so it kept you on your toes. Blake doesn't say anything at all and Luc is psychotic so it's just boring.

 

[King'sPawn]

I know it's not a popular take, but I do still like Hiller. He has been creative with his problem solving, even when it hasn't worked out when we needed it the most (giving PLD "stars" for good shifts, 5 forward powerplay, etc). He finally found a way to salvage the Fiala trade. Younger players were getting various opportunities. And he did coach the team to a 105-point season. Objectively and subjectively, he has done a lot as a head coach worth liking.

The biggest issues come when he gets caught up in insisting he has solved another problem in the playoffs. Last season, it was the 1-3-1. This year, it was riding 9 forwards and 4 D like mules.

He's far from perfect, and I get the frustration with him. But I'd be willing to give him another season with different bosses (i.e. Blake and Luc gone). I'm not saying new management would have him do anything different, but I'd like to see a combination of him hopefully learning from his mistakes while also having a new GM give the team a makeover.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

The mask is back on huh? It was nice to see your honest takes. Now you’re in damage control mode again lol

You asked me two days ago if I thought they should fire Hiller - and I gave the same answer, I DON'T KNOW. What I do know is that he was having a hell of a run for a first year HC, up until game 3 of the playoffs. Sorry, that's just a fact. (also got to give him credit for pulling the Kings out of that horrible slump last year)

The other fact is, there's not a head coach you aren't all willing to kick to the curb once things don't go our way. I honestly think Hiller would/should most likely learn from his mistakes and is the least of the Kings concerns today. But hey, if we can get Quennville, sign me up!

 

[Maynard]

That was definitely not the point I was trying to make.

The Riddler strikes again. Just make your point. You’re terrible at this cryptic message sending thing you so often attempt to do.

 

[johnjm22]

 

[johnjm22]

I know it's not a popular take, but I do still like Hiller. He has been creative with his problem solving, even when it hasn't worked out when we needed it the most (giving PLD "stars" for good shifts, 5 forward powerplay, etc). He finally found a way to salvage the Fiala trade. Younger players were getting various opportunities. And he did coach the team to a 105-point season. Objectively and subjectively, he has done a lot as a head coach worth liking.

The biggest issues come when he gets caught up in insisting he has solved another problem in the playoffs. Last season, it was the 1-3-1. This year, it was riding 9 forwards and 4 D like mules.

He's far from perfect, and I get the frustration with him. But I'd be willing to give him another season with different bosses (i.e. Blake and Luc gone). I'm not saying new management would have him do anything different, but I'd like to see a combination of him hopefully learning from his mistakes while also having a new GM give the team a makeover.

I agree. I'm okay with him staying around for another season.

He was essentially a rookie head coach this season.

People can change. People can get better at things. If he's good at this, he'll recognize his mistake and adjust.

I know his interactions with the press suggest otherwise, but I don't need him to admit anything to the media.

One concern I would have moving forward with Hiller is whether or not the players have lost trust in a coach who didn't show trust in them.

 

[Faterson]

whether or not the players have lost trust in a coach who didn't show trust in them.

They pretty damn should. There's just no excuse.

 

[FSL KINGS]

You asked me two days ago if I thought they should fire Hiller - and I gave the same answer, I DON'T KNOW. What I do know is that he was having a hell of a run for a first year HC, up until game 3 of the playoffs. Sorry, that's just a fact. (also got to give him credit for pulling the Kings out of that horrible slump last year)

The other fact is, there's not a head coach you aren't all willing to kick to the curb once things don't go our way. I honestly think Hiller would/should most likely learn from his mistakes and is the least of the Kings concerns today. But hey, if we can get Quennville, sign me up!

What is Hiller going to learn? Hitting is part of hockey? The refs aren't there to bail you out on a challenge? There's a 4th line? 6D? Thought Hiller might learn from the last playoffs. Nope.

 

[Sol]

I think you guys are being extremely overhanded with your “it’s just his first full season”.

He threw away the series in the most blatant possible way ever. It wasn’t a failure in judgement. It was a strict disregard for change and zero trust.


To be okay with him staying is completely misguided and diminishes his single handed catastrophic decision making.

Maybe you guys are fine with it, but I don’t want any coach, ANY coach who loses 4 straight.

 

[All The Kings Men]

You’re terrible at this cryptic message sending thing you so often attempt to do.

I'm aware.

 

[King'sPawn]

I think you guys are being extremely overhanded with your “it’s just his first full season”.

He threw away the series in the most blatant possible way ever. It wasn’t a failure in judgement. It was a strict disregard for change and zero trust.


To be okay with him staying is completely misguided and diminishes his single handed catastrophic decision making.

Maybe you guys are fine with it, but I don’t want any coach, ANY coach who loses 4 straight.

I get why you don't like him. I just think, given how well he ran the team during the regular season, he deserves some more time.

He's good with line matching, which is why he's good at the home. But his inability to manage lines on the road and not knowing how to utilize his fourth line in the playoffs feels more like a lack of experience issue. I think he's smart enough to try to learn from his mistakes.

That's just my read. But I get why others don't feel the same way.

 

[jgs]

View attachment 1028373

Right where. The only place they are at right now is on the golf coarse. This is what is wrong with leadership. They think winning a series is being right there. Hey stupid it all about winning the Cup and you are not right there.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Jimbo’s better than Todd and makes less than the Koala and Willie D combined. If you’re going to be mediocre, it’s all good as long as you’re a bargain.

 

[Master Yoda]

I get why you don't like him. I just think, given how well he ran the team during the regular season, he deserves some more time.

He's good with line matching, which is why he's good at the home. But his inability to manage lines on the road and not knowing how to utilize his fourth line in the playoffs feels more like a lack of experience issue. I think he's smart enough to try to learn from his mistakes.

That's just my read. But I get why others don't feel the same way.

I thought that kind of adjustment would come in game 4 after what happened in games 1-3 (specifically 1 & 3).

He even said after game 3 on the off day that he thought they made the right decisions in game 3 (the challenge, player usage, 3rd period trap).

I don't really know why they stopped playing the 4th line and the bottom pairing in the playoffs after playing them quite a bit especially after the deadline when they were rolling, but it doesn't give me any confidence that we will see anything different next time his team is in the playoffs.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I thought that kind of adjustment would come in game 4 after what happened in games 1-3 (specifically 1 & 3).

He even said after game 3 on the off day that he thought they made the right decisions in game 3 (the challenge, player usage, 3rd period trap).

I don't really know why they stopped playing the 4th line and the bottom pairing in the playoffs after playing them quite a bit especially after the deadline when they were rolling, but it doesn't give me any confidence that we will see anything different next time his team is in the playoffs.

You think, in the middle of a series, if he thought he f***ED UP, he’s gonna tell you?! lol, you guys are funny.

What’s next he owes you injury updates during the playoffs too??

 

[Master Yoda]

You think, in the middle of a series, if he thought he f***ED UP, he’s gonna tell you?! lol, you guys are funny.

What’s next he owes you injury updates during the playoffs too??

You don't have to tell me. You just do it. And he didn't. You're f***ing hilarious

 

[Schrute farms]

I don't either way with Hiller. Until there's a new FO, it doesn't matter. They will continue riding the 8/11 train. So whatever.

But saying Hiller has this rookie season and he can learn from the mistakes is a wow lol. The dude has been on this coaching staff around this team for three years....three years! He's seen the over-usage of the top guys and being dead tired by the time they play the Oilers series, not playing young guys, not playing a 4th line, etc. Over-usage has been the #1 problem. That's the worry i had with the 11/7 so much throughout the year. Anyway, this is NOT his first time seeing, being around and doing this crap. It's groundhog day. With one character (coach) getting changed half way thru. Otherwise, it's the same old thing over & over. It's funny actually. For my sanity, i'm glad i checked out last year.

 

[tbrown33]

The Riddler strikes again. Just make your point. You’re terrible at this cryptic message sending thing you so often attempt to do.

Kings fans deserve better communication from the org - from top to bottom.

 

[AzKing]

No kidding Jim, but you got in the way..

How long can Ownership continue with putting average people to run a a premier franchise in the nhl. Just making the playoffs and out in first round 4 years straight is not good enough, especially since management tried to sell that this team was built the Oilers

AEG has never cared about anything other than revenue. Phil A has been a virtual recluse his entire adult life and never invested himself into the team. He just counts his money and hides in Colorado on some compound the size of a small state. He never has gone to games or even put himself out there for public consumption. This is part of his portfolio along with the Lakers, Crypto Arena, The Galaxy etc. He owns AEG which 99% of the world hates because of how they rip people off on entertainment costs. He's probably one of the worst owners you could have because he doesn't care even though he has money.

He puts people in charge and the goal is to have sellouts, get some premiere guys so they can sell merch and make the playoffs to get some bonus cash. The Kings are just a money machine to them and part of the puzzle. Winning the Stanley Cup was a nice bonus but Phil A couldn't have cared less if they didn't win it. Those Cups were won by teams that had magical runs because they weren't powerhouses during the regular season. They were the 8th seed in 2012. They were better in 2014 but still not a favorite. That's why this whole 105 point bullshit meant nothing because the regular season is irrelevant when it comes to playoff hockey if your team isn't built for the way things change or who you may be facing.

So, don't expect him to do anything. Best thing for the Kings will be when he finally shuffles off his mortal coil and whoever inherits the team sells it.

 

[Herby]

I don't either way with Hiller. Until there's a new FO, it doesn't matter.

Exactly, it doesn't matter who the coach is when the roster has fatal flaws that will prevent the team from ever winning a thing.

How many teams have won anything without a 1st line C AND a 1st pairing D?

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

In response to hiller-
No shit sherlock

 

[Rorschach]

Bro thinks he can just say this about the team when he's the head coach of said team.