The Pittsburgh Penguins plan to interview former Edmonton Oilers head coach Todd Nelson for the vacant position with the Penguins' AHL affiliate.

Nelson, who coached the Oilers' AHL affiliate in Oklahoma City for four seasons, was promoted to Edmonton last season to serve as interim head coach after Dallas Eakins was fired in December. The Oilers went 17-25-9 after Nelson took over.

The Penguins have received permission from the Oilers to talk to Nelson about the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coaching job, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford told Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton role opened up when John Hynes was hired by the New Jersey Devils earlier this month. Nelson is one of several candidates for the position.

"We have some guys that we're interviewing that have NHL experience, that have AHL experience, that have been successful there," Rutherford said.

"We lost a terrific coach in John Hynes. He did a terrific job and now he's rewarded for it. But I feel comfortable that we're going to have a very good coach there."

There has reportedly been discussion in Edmonton about bringing Nelson back to join new Oilers head coach Todd McLellan's staff.

Nelson has three years remaining on his AHL contract, but because he never shed his "interim" tag or signed an NHL deal, the Penguins will not be required to give the Oilers a compensatory draft pick if they hire him.