LOS ANGELES (AP) Todd McLellan was hired as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, taking over a two-time Stanley Cup-winning franchise that slumped to the NHL's second-worst record this season.

McLellan replaces Willie Desjardins, who wasn't retained after he replaced John Stevens early in the season and did little to halt the Kings' precipitous slide. Although much of the core talent remains from the Kings' championship-winning teams in 2012 and 2014, Los Angeles finished 31-42-9 in its worst season since 2007-08.

The 51-year-old McLellan has ample head coaching experience with two of the Kings' Pacific Division rivals.