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). He has been hired as an Assistant Coach for the Calgary Flames (NHL) as of June 11, 2024.
| Brad Larsen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Larsen in 2021 | |||
| Born |
June 28, 1977 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 | ||
Playing career
editLarsen 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. He could not establish himself in the NHL because he was blighted by persistent back and groin injuries in 2002–03. 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.
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
editLarsen 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
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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 honors
edit| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| WHL | ||
| East Second All-Star Team | 1997 | |
Personal life
editLarsen and his wife have two children.[8] Larsen is a Christian.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Thrashers re-sign Larsen and McCarthy". Atlanta Thrashers. June 22, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Cox, Damien (September 26, 2008). "Schneider traded to Atlanta". Toronto Star. Toronto. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
- ^ "Ducks make final salary cap move". ducks.freedomblog.com. October 18, 2008. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
- ^ "Sabres sign Stafford to two year deal". Buffalo News. September 13, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2010. [dead link]
- ^ "Larsen named asst. coach in Springfield". American Hockey League. August 20, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ "CBJ name Brad Larsen head coach". NHL.com. June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets relieve Brad Larsen of his duties as head coach". NHL.com. April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ "Brad Larsen, Assistant Coach". Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ Doering, Joshua. "Blue Jackets assistant Brad Larsen owes 'everything to God' after beating cancer twice". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database