Todd Nelson linked to prominent NHL team after historic AHL season with Hershey Bears

The 2024 AHL Coach of the Year led the Bears to their ninth consecutive playoff series win this past weekend by extending an already historic run that includes back-to-back Calder Cup titles in his first two seasons with the club.

Now in his third year in Hershey, Todd Nelson is generating attention from NHL teams with coaching vacancies and according to CHEK's Rick Dhaliwal, the Vancouver Canucks are among the organizations considering Nelson for their head coach opening.

Rick Dhaliwal noted the Canucks may be looking for someone with both NHL and AHL experience which is an ideal description of Nelson.

Todd Nelson's NHL experience came on an interim basis with the Edmonton Oilers in 2014-15, but he's long expressed a desire to return to the NHL in a permanent role and after being overlooked last summer, despite besting Dan Bylsma in consecutive Calder Cup Finals, Todd Nelson now appears poised for interviews.

With 450 AHL coaching wins which is the fifth-most all-time, Todd Nelson has a proven development track record and he's played a major role in graduating Washington Capitals players like Connor Mcmichael, Aliaksei Protas and Dylan McIlrath.

His current Hershey roster also includes top prospects like Ivan Miroshnichenko and Hunter Shepard which many of whom debuted in the NHL after time under Nelson.

Beyond Hershey, Nelson's résumé includes a Calder Cup title with Grand Rapids in 2017 and two championships in the UHL.

He's coached over 1,000 professional games across leagues and is the only person to win the Calder Cup as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

If the Canucks want a seasoned developer of talent who wins consistently, Nelson could be their answer.