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 the 2001–02 season. He could not establish himself in the NHL because he was blighted by persistent back and groin injuries in the 2002–03 season. Larsen returned in the 2003–04 season and spent time with both Hershey and Colorado before he was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Thrashers on February 25, 2004.
During the 2004–05 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 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]
On June 11, 2024, Larsen was named as an Assistant Coach of the Calgary Flames.[8]
On December 27, 2024, the Calgary Flames called up Trent Cull from his Calgary Wranglers head coaching position on an interim basis as an Assistant Coach while his colleague, Brad Larsen, had left earlier in the month to deal with a family matter. [9]
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