The Columbus Blue Jackets have decided to make a coaching change. News came early Saturday morning that head coach Brad Larsen has been fired. Goaltending coach Manny Legace was also relieved of his duties on Satuday.
Brad Larsen Fired By Blue Jackets
Larsen totaled a 62-86-16 record in 164 games with Columbus. He had one year left of his contract after replacing John Tortorella behind the bench in 2021. Larsen had been an assistant coach with the club since 2014 before being promoted. He was one of the more respected assistant coaches in the league. His hire was lauded as rewarding a coach for being a valued assistant.
The remaining staff, including associate head coach Pascal Vincent, assistant Steve McCarthy and skills coaches Kenny McCudden and Jared Boll, are staying.
Injuries seemed to derail Larsen’s clubs the last couple of seasons. Patrik Laine, Boone Jenner and Zach Werenski have all missed time over the last two seasons. The Jackets never really could get much offensive momentum in Larsen’s time with the team.
Larsen also played in the both the NHL and the AHL during his playing career. The British Columbia native also represented Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championships in 1996 and 1997. He helped Canada win gold medals at both tournaments.
What Brad Larsen Getting Fired Means
The Jackets dip back into the head coaching market looking for a new bench boss. There are some good things with Johnny Gaudreau and Laine as a couple of the main offensive pieces. Werenski returning from injury should also bolster the lineup.
Columbus also has the second-best shot at getting Connor Bedard in the upcoming draft. The Jackets had a chance to get the coveted 25.5 percent odds, but a late-season run pushed them down to second place. Adding Bedard or someone like Adam Fantilli would give the team a massive lift in their lineup.
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