Todd Nelson is the next head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the fomer Edmonton Oilers bench boss takes the place of Jeff Blashill, who was recently promoted to be the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings. 

 

Nelson, 46, took over as the Oilers' head coach part way through the 2014-2015 seson and guided the young Edmonton squad to a 17-25 record in 51 games. He previously coached the Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons, from 2010 to 2014. He was also an assistant with the Calder Cup winning Chicago Wolves in 2008 as well as an assistant with the Griffins in 2002-2003 before joining the Muskegon Fury of the IHL where he guided the team to back-to-back championships in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. 

Nelson takes control of a skilled Griffins squad that won the Calder Cup in 2013 and reached the AHL conference finals this past spring.