Barons Coach Todd Nelson Signs Three-Year Contract Extension

The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with Oklahoma City Barons head coach Todd Nelson on a three-year contract extension the team announced today.

Nelson has spent the past four seasons as the Oklahoma City Barons bench boss. In 2013-14, he guided the Barons to the post season for the fourth year in a row, since being hired in 2010 as the head coach of the Oilers American Hockey League affiliate.

Nelson's most successful season as Oklahoma City's bench boss was in 2011-12, when he led the Barons to first place finish in the Western Conference with 99 points and a record of 45-22-4-5. He also led the Barons to the Western Conference finals in consecutive years (2012, 2013) and has accumulated a record of 161-105-10-32 in 304 games as Head Coach of the Barons.

The Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native broke into the coaching ranks during the 2001-02 season as a player/assistant coach with the Muskegon Fury of the United Hockey League. Nelson spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers, prior to joining the Barons in 2010. He has also spent time in the AHL as an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Chicago Wolves, where he won the Calder Cup in 2008.

Originally selected by the Penguins in the fourth round, 79th overall, of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, Nelson played 12 seasons of professional hockey, which included NHL stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.

Nelson also appeared in 306 career AHL games with the Portland Pirates, Hershey Bears, Rochester Americans and Grand Rapids Griffins, totaling 168 points (37 goals, 131 assists) and 223 penalty minutes. He captured the 1994 Calder Cup with Portland and was inducted into that franchise's hall of fame in 2007.