Detroit — That didn’t take very long.
The Red Wings named Ben Simon as new head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, just days after an opening was created.
Simon, 39, spent three seasons as an assistant for former Griffins head coach Todd Nelson, who last week left for the NHL to become an assistant coach for the Dallas Stars.
Simon, who signed a three-year contract, becomes the 11th head coach in Griffins’ franchise history.
Ryan Martin, the Red Wings’ assistant general manager, hired Simon for Nelson’s staff and believes Simon is ready for this next step.