Brad Larsen (born June 28, 1977) is a Canadian professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...

coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the

Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ...

of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

(NHL). Before coaching, he played in the NHL with the

Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The Avalanche play thei ...

and the Atlanta Thrashers between 1998 and 2008. He is the former head coach of the Springfield Falcons of the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the le ...

(AHL).

Playing career

Larsen was born in

Nakusp, British Columbia The Village of Nakusp (Sinixt ''neqo'sp'') is beside the mouth of Kuskanax Creek, on the Upper Arrow Lake in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. Lying between the Selkirk Mountains, Selkirk and Monashee Mountains, Monashe ...

, but grew up in

Vernon, British Columbia Vernon is a city in the Okanagan region of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is northeast of Vancouver. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped establish the Coldstream Ranch in nearb ...

. 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 The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a membe ...

in the

1995 NHL Entry Draft The 1995 NHL Entry Draft was the 33rd NHL Entry Draft. It was held at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta. The drafting order was now set partially by a lottery system whereby teams would not be guaranteed first pick if they finished last. ...

. His rights were traded to the

in 1996. He was not signed by the Avalanche by

1997 NHL Entry Draft The 1997 NHL Entry Draft was the 35th NHL Entry Draft. It was held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 21, 1997. As of 2022, the only remaining active player in the NHL from the 1997 draft class is Joe Thornton. Selections ...

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 The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a town located 14 miles east of the state capital of Harrisburg. The current Bears club has played in the American Hockey League since the 1938–39 season maki ...

, 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. Brad 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. Brad Larsen

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 The Chicago Wolves are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League and are the top minor-league affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the C ...

. 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. 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 Mathieu David Schneider (born June 12, 1969) is an American former professional ice hockey player. Considered an offensive defenseman, Schneider played 1,289 games in the National Hockey League with ten different teams, scoring 233 goals and tot ...

. Larsen's injury woes returned at the start of the 2008–09 season, after suffering a

sports hernia Athletic pubalgia, also called sports hernia, core injury, hockey hernia, hockey groin, Gilmore's groin, or groin disruption is a medical condition of the Pubic symphysis, pubic joint affecting athletes. It is a syndrome characterized by chronic ...

; he was then required to have hip surgery which consequently keep him sidelined for the entire season without debuting for the Ducks. A free agent, Larsen was invited to the

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along w ...

training camp for the 2009–10 season before signing with its AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates on September 12, 2009. 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 The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champions of the American Hockey League. It was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars. The cup is made of sterling silver mounted on a base of Brazilian mahogany. In its cur ...

playoffs, Larsen later announced his retirement to become an assistant coach with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL on August 20, 2010.

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

in 2014. On June 10, 2021 after seven seasons as an assistant, Larsen was named head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Head coaching record

Awards and honours

Personal life

Larsen and his wife have two children. Larsen is a Christian.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Brad Larsen 1970s births Living people Bridgeport Sound Tigers players Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Sweden Canadian ice hockey centres Canadian ice hockey coaches Columbus Blue Jackets coaches Ice hockey people from Alberta Mora IK players New York Islanders draft picks New York Islanders players People from Foothills County Prince Albert Raiders players Rögle BK players