Why Jim Hiller Is an Early Candidate for the Jack Adams

As the NHL season reaches its midpoint, several names are already being touted as early favorites for the Jack Adams Award, given annually to the league's Coach of the Year. Spencer Carbery, Sheldon Keefe, and Scott Arniel have dominated much of the conversation. Yet, one name deserves a closer look: Jim Hiller.

Gone are the days when the Jack Adams went to the "best" coach in the league. The award now often recognizes the coach who most successfully exceeds expectations. Of the last eight winners, only two remain with the teams they guided to their award-winning campaigns. Take Darryl Sutter, for instance, who won his first Adams in 2021-22 after more than two decades behind NHL benches. Yes, it was a great season for Sutter and the Calgary Flames, but he had several seasons where he wasn’t even considered for the award while arguably being the best coach in hockey.

No, it's not about the “best coach”. It’s more about the coach that helps his team outperform expectations, and Jim Hiller certainly fits that bill.

After a turbulent end to last season, the Kings entered the summer of 2024 facing serious questions. General Manager Rob Blake wasted no time trying to stabilize the franchise. His first decisive action was removing the "interim" tag from Hiller’s title, officially naming him the 30th head coach in franchise history. The move was met with skepticism. Not only had Hiller just led the Kings to an early playoff exit, but he was now challenged by significant roster turnover. Seven players departed, and four new faces joined within weeks of his hiring.

The challenges didn’t stop there. The team’s cornerstone, future Hall of Famer Drew Doughty, suffered a long-term injury before the season began. Many analysts wrote off the Kings before the first puck dropped in October.

Fast forward to January 5, 2024. The LA Kings now rank as the NHL’s sixth-best team in both points and points percentage. They boast the league’s top home record at 14-2-1 and have won nine consecutive games in Los Angeles, setting a new franchise record. On defense, they have allowed just 96 goals—one more than Dallas, the league leader. At 5-on-5, they’re unmatched, surrendering a league-low 58 goals. By advanced metrics, including high-danger chances against and expected goals differential, the Kings are the NHL’s best defensive team. Their current .671 points percentage puts them on track for a 110-point season, which would surpass the franchise’s all-time high of 105 points, set in 1975.

Oh, and by the way, they’ve accomplished all of this without Drew Doughty playing a single game.

Even the most optimistic Kings fans couldn’t have predicted this level of success. Hiller’s tactical ingenuity has been a key factor. His use of an 11-forward, 7-defenseman lineup has yielded a 9-2-2 record this season and an astounding 22-4-3 mark since he took over in February 2024. During this period, the Kings have gone 27-5-2 on home ice.

Hiller’s impact goes beyond numbers. After a recent win against Edmonton, winger Warren Foegele praised his coach:

Outside of Spencer Carbery in Washington, no coach has defied expectations this season like Jim Hiller. If the Kings continue to build on their strong start, Hiller’s case for the Jack Adams will be hard to ignore.