Kings fire Stevens after poor start

The Los Angeles Kings’ 4-8-1 start has cost coach John Stevens his job, the first NHL coaching casualty of the season. Former Vancouver Canucks coach Willie Desjardins will take over coaching duties on an interim basis after what Kings president Rob Blake said in a statement was “a difficult decision but one we feel was necessary.”

“We have a great deal of respect and appreciation for John’s time with our organization,” the statement continued. “He was a key part of our past success, and we have tremendous gratitude for his many contributions.”

Stevens, 52, was named head coach in April 2017. The Kings finished 45-29-8 last season, though they were swept by the expansion Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the postseason on the Golden Knights’ march to the Stanley Cup Finals.

This year, however, the team’s nine points in the standings equal the Florida Panthers for the league’s worst. One of the team’s offseason priorities was to improve the offense, which included the signing of left wing Ilya Kovalchuk, who has scored 421 goals and 827 points in 829 career games. Kovalchuk has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 13 games this season.

“This is a critical time in our season, and our results to date have fallen well below our expectations,” Blake said in the statement.

The Kings also announced they have parted ways with Don Nachbaur, who joined the Kings as an assistant coach before the 2017-18 season. He will be replaced by former Kings player Marco Sturm.