Brad Larsen

Brad Larsen (born June 28, 1977) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Before coaching, he played eight seasons in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche and the Atlanta Thrashers. He is the former head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets and 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 and subsequently re-entered the draft, where he was drafted 87th overall in the 1997 NHL entry draft 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 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. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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. On April 15, 2023, after failing to make the playoffs in either year under his leadership, the Blue Jackets fired Larsen.

On June 11, 2024, Larsen was named as an Assistant Coach of the Calgary Flames.

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.

Personal life Larsen and his wife have two children. He is a Christian. Larsen's wife Hannah died in early 2026 from cancer. Larsen had previously taken a leave of absence from the Flames in December 2024 when her condition worsened.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs 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 0NHL totals 294 19 29 48 134 25 1 3 4 13

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 6Junior 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 playoffsTotal 164 62 86 16 — — —

Awards and honors Award Year WHL East Second All-Star Team 1997