Jared Clinton of The Hockey News lists Grand Rapids coach Todd Nelson as a possible candidate for the head coaching job for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Todd Nelson
Current: Coach, Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)
Past NHL Experience: Interim coach, Edmonton Oilers; assistant coach, Atlanta Thrashers

Nelson gives the Hurricanes another potential option out of the AHL, but the difference here is that he has experience behind an NHL bench. It’s not much, mind you, but it’s something. For two seasons, from 2008 to 2010, Nelson was an assistant with the Thrashers, and after some excellent work with the Oilers’ farm team, he earned a chance to coach Edmonton on an interim basis. It was only 46 games, but that’s 46 games more than Keefe or Brind’Amour. Nelson has really turned some heads in recent years, too, coaching the Griffins to the 2016-17 Calder Cup. Here’s the catch, though: will Detroit let Nelson interview for the gig? The past two seasons have been dreadful under coach Jeff Blashill, and if the coming campaign isn’t much better, Nelson might be next in line for the Detroit job.

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