The Los Angeles Kings season ended the same way this week as it has the prior three seasons. However, the disappointing first round exit doesn't appear to be enough for the team to make significant changes in their front office or on the bench.
According to John Hoven with Mayor's Manor, the Kings are reportedly set to not only bring back Jim Hiller but also general manager Rob Blake. The news on Blake is probably the most notable because it means that the Kings will be giving the general manager a new contract.
Blake has been general manager for the Los Angeles Kings since the 2017 season but was in the final year of his contract. The fact that they are bringing back Blake is one of the reasons that it makes sense to keep Jim Hiller.
This was Hiller's first full season as head coach and he had a lot of success during the regular season. The Kings would finish the season with 105 points, which tied a franchise record, but also set franchise records in home wins.
At this point, Hiller and Blake seem to be a package deal as they appear to be aligned on what the roster should look like, and Blake has done a good job of finding players that fit Hiller's system. Over the past year, the additions of Warren Foegele, Joel Edmundson, Darcy Kuemper, and then Andrei Kuzmenko at the trade deadline were big reasons for their success in the regular season.
The playoff exit is tough for fans to stomach as it is the fourth straight season with a first-round exit and each time it has been at the hands of the division rival Edmonton Oilers. This year seemed different as the Kings did have home ice advantage but it still wasn't enough to get by the Oilers.
Unfortunately, the bar is set very high for these two going into next season as it really doesn't matter what happens during the regular season. Both the head coach and general manager are going to be evaluated based strictly on what they do in the playoffs and fans can only hope next season will be better than this year.