Ulf Samuelsson named head coach of Hurricanes' AHL affiliate

The Carolina Hurricanes have hired Ulf Samuelsson to serve as head coach of the team’s minor-league affiliate, the AHL's Charlotte Checkers.

"Ulf has built a very strong coaching resume during a decade behind the bench in the AHL, NHL, and Swedish league," said Carolina general manager Ron Francis. "He has a proven history of helping to develop young players and understands the organizational culture that we are building here."

The former NHL defenseman and Stanley Cup winner (Pittsburgh Penguins - 1991, 1992) spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers, helping the club reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 and the conference final in 2015.

Prior to that, he coached Modo of the Swedish Hockey League, served as an associate with the Arizona Coyotes from 2006-07 until 2010-11, and cracked the coaching ranks as an assistant with Hartford (AHL) back in 2005.