Griffins coach Todd Nelson joining Dallas Stars as assistant coach

May 30, 2018May 31, 2018 MiHockey Staff

By @StefanKubus –

He played on the inaugural Grand Rapids Griffins team in the 1996-97 season and led them to a Calder Cup 20 years later as a coach.

Now, Todd Nelson is heading back to the NHL. Nelson, 49, is set to join the recently-hired Jim Montgomery on the Dallas Stars’ bench as an assistant coach.

Nelson spent the past three seasons with Grand Rapids as head coach, as he recorded 133 wins and captured a Calder Cup championship in 2017.

This marks the third NHL stop for Nelson. He previously served as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Thrashers from 2008-10 and was an assistant-turned-interim head coach with Edmonton during the 2014-15 season.

On Wednesday, the Griffins tweeted out this quote from Ben Street on his time playing for Nelson:

Here’s what Ben Street had to say about Coach @Todd_Nelson44. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/0kaNULZNcP

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) May 30, 2018