The Dallas Stars have announced the hiring of Todd Nelson as an assistant coach under new head coach Jim Montgomery.
Nelson, 49, completed his eighth season as an AHL head coach in 2017-18 and third with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Prior to joining the Griffins, Nelson spent four-plus seasons at the helm of the Oklahoma City Barons before being promoted to head coach of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 15, 2014.
Nelson guided his teams to six 40-win seasons, one division title (2011-12) and three conference finals appearances, highlighted by a Calder Cup championship with Grand Rapids in 2017.
With a regular-season record of 309-205-47, Nelson ranks 17th all-time in victories by an AHL head coach, and his .593 winning percentage places fourth among the 20 members of the 300-win club. He is also 42-31 in the Calder Cup Playoffs, tied for sixth all-time in postseason coaching wins.
Nelson also served as an assistant coach in the AHL with Grand Rapids (2002-03) and Chicago (2006-08), winning a Calder Cup with the Wolves in 2008. He was also an assistant with the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers from 2008-10.
A fourth-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1989, Nelson played 887 professional games and won a Calder Cup title with the Portland Pirates in 1994, joining Mike Stothers and Bob Woods as the only people to win Calder Cups as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
