Nelson played in the North American Hockey League with the Alaska Avalanche and Johnstown Tomahawks.
[1] Nelson joined the NCAA's Minnesota State Mavericks in 2013 and played three seasons at the school.
[5] Nelson was invited to participate in a prospect camp for the National Hockey League's Philadelphia Flyers in the summer of 2015.
[5] Nelson was signed to an entry-level professional contract by the NHL's Buffalo Sabres on March 22, 2016.
[10] As a free agent, Nelson initially returned for a sixth season within the Sabres organization by agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract extension on October 22, 2020.