Brad Larsen

Brad Larsen
Larsen in 2021
Born	(1977-06-28) June 28, 1977 (age 46) Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Colorado Avalanche Atlanta Thrashers
Coached for	Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL Draft	53rd overall, 1995 Ottawa Senators 87th overall, 1997 Colorado Avalanche
Playing career	1997–2010
Coaching career	2010–present

Brad Larsen (born June 28, 1977) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who most recently served as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Before coaching, he played in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche and the Atlanta Thrashers between 1998 and 2008. He is the former head coach of the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Playing career

Larsen was born in Nakusp, British Columbia, but grew up in Vernon, British Columbia. He played junior ice hockey for the Swift Current Broncos where he attracted NHL scouts' attention. Larsen was drafted in round 3, 53rd overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. His rights were traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 1996. He was not signed by the Avalanche by 1997 NHL Entry Draft day and subsequently re-entered the draft and was drafted 87th overall by the Avalanche.

Larsen's first four professional years were spent almost entirely with Colorado's AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, before securing a full-time role as a member of the Avalanche in 2001–02. Blighted by persistent back and groin injuries in 2002–03, Larsen was unable to establish himself in the NHL. Larsen returned in 2003–04 and spent time with both Hershey and Colorado before he was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Thrashers on February 25, 2004.

Larsen with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2004

During the 2004 NHL Lockout, Larsen made a return to full health playing in a career-high 75 games with the Thrashers AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. Upon resumption of the NHL in the 2005–06 season, Larsen established a checking line role with the Thrashers and posted a career-high 7 goals for 15 points. After playing in an NHL-high 72 games and helping Atlanta reach their maiden postseason the following season, Larsen was re-signed by the Thrashers to a two-year contract extension on June 22, 2007. ^[1] A mainstay on the Thrashers fourth line, Larsen's offensive contributions dipped in the 2007–08 season, scoring just 1 goal and four points.

On September 26, 2008, Larsen was traded by Atlanta, along with Ken Klee and Chad Painchaud, to the Anaheim Ducks for Mathieu Schneider. ^[2] Larsen's injury woes returned at the start of the 2008–09 season, after suffering a sports hernia; he was then required to have hip surgery which consequently keep him sidelined for the entire season without debuting for the Ducks. ^[3]

A free agent, Larsen was invited to the Buffalo Sabres training camp for the 2009–10 season before signing with its AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates on September 12, 2009. ^[4] As a part of the leadership group with the Pirates, Larsen made his return to the ice and posted 13 goals and 27 points in 55 games. Helping the Pirates reach the quarterfinals in the Calder Cup playoffs, Larsen later announced his retirement to become an assistant coach with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL on August 20, 2010. ^[5]

Coaching career

Larsen was an assistant coach for the Springfield Falcons between 2010 and 2012. He was later promoted as head coach of the team, spending two seasons in that role between 2012 and 2014. Larsen was hired as an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014. On June 10, 2021 after seven seasons as an assistant, Larsen was named head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. ^[6] On April 15, 2023, after failing to make the playoffs in either year under his leadership, the Blue Jackets fired Larsen. ^[7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1992–93	Nelson Leafs	RMJHL		42	31	37	68	164		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Swift Current Broncos	WHL		64	15	18	33	32		7	1	2	3	4
1994–95	Swift Current Broncos	WHL		62	24	33	57	73		6	0	1	1	2
1995–96	Swift Current Broncos	WHL		51	30	47	77	67		6	3	2	5	13
1996–97	Swift Current Broncos	WHL		61	36	46	82	61		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Hershey Bears	AHL		65	12	10	22	80		7	3	2	5	2
1997–98	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Hershey Bears	AHL		18	3	4	7	11		5	0	1	1	6
1999–00	Hershey Bears	AHL		52	13	26	39	66		14	5	2	7	29
2000–01	Hershey Bears	AHL		67	21	25	46	93		10	1	3	4	6
2000–01	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		9	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		50	2	7	9	47		21	1	1	2	13
2002–03	Hershey Bears	AHL		25	3	6	9	25		4	1	1	2	8
2002–03	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		6	0	3	3	2		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Hershey Bears	AHL		21	4	13	17	40		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		26	2	2	4	11		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		6	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Chicago Wolves	AHL		75	26	23	49	112		18	4	7	11	22
2005–06	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		62	7	8	15	21		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Chicago Wolves	AHL		6	1	0	1	8		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		72	7	6	13	39		4	0	2	2	0
2007–08	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		62	1	3	4	12		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Portland Pirates	AHL		55	13	14	27	40		4	0	0	0	0
NHL totals				294	19	29	48	134		25	1	3	4	13

Medal record
Representing   Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Under 17 Hockey Challenge
	1994 Amos
World Junior Championship
	1996 Boston
	1997 Geneva

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1994	Canada Pacific	WHC17			6	1	0	1	0
1996	Canada	WJC			6	1	1	2	4
1997	Canada	WJC			7	0	1	1	6
Junior totals					19	2	2	4	10

Head coaching record

Team	Year	Regular season						Postseason
		G	W	L	OTL	Pts	Finish	W	L	Win%	Result
CBJ	2021–22	82	37	38	7	81	6th in Metropolitan	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
CBJ	2022–23	82	25	48	9	59	8th in Metropolitan	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
Total		164	62	86	16			—	—	—

Awards and honours

Award	Year
WHL
East Second All-Star Team	1997

Personal life

Larsen and his wife have two children. ^[8] Larsen is a Christian. ^[9]

References

1. "Thrashers re-sign Larsen and McCarthy". Atlanta Thrashers . June 22, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2010.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
2. Cox, Damien (September 26, 2008). "Schneider traded to Atlanta". Toronto Star. Toronto. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
3. "Ducks make final salary cap move". ducks.freedomblog.com. October 18, 2008. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
4. "Sabres sign Stafford to two year deal". Buffalo News . September 13, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2010.^{[ dead link ]}
5. "Larsen named asst. coach in Springfield". American Hockey League . August 20, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
6. "CBJ name Brad Larsen head coach". NHL.com. June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
7. "Columbus Blue Jackets relieve Brad Larsen of his duties as head coach". NHL.com. April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
8. "Brad Larsen, Assistant Coach" . Retrieved March 13, 2020.
9. Doering, Joshua. "Blue Jackets assistant Brad Larsen owes 'everything to God' after beating cancer twice". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved March 13, 2020.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Sporting positions
Preceded by John Tortorella	Head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets 2021–2023	Succeeded by Mike Babcock