The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced head coach Brad Larsen will take some time away from the team after a death in the family.
With Larsen out due to the family emergency, Blue Jackets associate coach Pascal Vincent will be behind the bench for Sunday's matchup with the Golden Knights.
Prior to beginning his career off-ice, Larsen was a bottom-six player who spent most of his time playing in the American Hockey League. In 294 NHL games, he scored 19 goals and 48 points with 134 penalty minutes. He began coaching professionally right following the close of his playing career at the age of 33.
Larsen started out as an assistant coach with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL for two seasons before being promoted to head coaching duties for the following two campaign. He found plenty of success in Springfield, leading the team to a combined 92-45-15 record.
During his time coaching the Falcons he had the chance to mentor future NHL players Jonathan Marchessault, Ryan Johansen, Nick Holden, Cam Atkinson, David Savard and none other than Daily Faceoff‘s very own Mike McKenna.
Larsen was again promoted in the Blue Jackets organization ahead of the 2014-15 season, taking on a role as head coach Todd Richards’ assistant for the 2014-15 season. He went on to spend seven years at that position. After Richards was fired in the fall of 2015, Larsen stayed on with the organization as a member of John Tortorella’s coaching staff.
Prior to the 2021-22 season, Tortorella was let go by the Blue Jackets organization and Larsen was hired to be the team's new head coach. In nearly two seasons holding the spotlight role in Columbus, Larsen has compiled a record of 58-78-14 as the leader of a rebuilding team.
Pascal Vincent, who will work as Blue Jackets head coach in Larsen's absence, has an extensive coaching history in the QMJHL, AHL and as an assistant in the NHL.
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