Blue Jackets Assistant Coach Brad Larsen making an undeniable impact

Contributions throughout the Jackets organization helped make the 2016-17 season the record-setting year that it was. Assistant coach Brad Larsen, who serves as a leader on and off the ice for Jackets players, was a big part of that.
Larsen joined the Jackets in 2014 after working with the Springfield Falcons for four seasons. In his final two years with the Falcons, he served as head coach.
This meant that when Larsen came to Columbus, he didn't just bring his experience as a former NHL player in Colorado and Atlanta; He brought relationships he'd forged with many young Jackets players who'd played in Springfield including David Savard, Cam Atkinson and Matt Calvert.
"He's a great guy," Calvert said. "I think he works harder than every other guy in practice, which is great. When you see a guy like that still working that hard, it really pushes you to be better."

One of Larsen's most significant contributions this past season was with special teams. As the main architect of the power play, Larsen helped put the Jackets atop the League's power play rankings for a significant part of the season. The team ended the year 12th overall (19.9%) in power play efficiency and scored a power play goal in 30 of their 82 regular season games.
Nine of the Jackets' game winning goals last season came on the power play, including the Mar. 3 Brandon Dubinsky score that pushed the Jackets past the Flyers. That goal came off a play Larsen had set up that morning.
"It was kind of a goofy play, until we watched a little video and you could see that play would work," Dubinsky said. "(Larsen)'s done a great job with the power play all year and (on that goal) we were able to execute it."
Larsen's impact was seen on the individual level, too. His name was one of the first mentioned by Nick Foligno when he won the 2017 Mark Messier Leadership Award. Foligno credited Larsen's help in developing as a player in a year that saw the Jackets' captain post his second highest career totals in goals (26) and points (51).

"Now on the ice, my mind goes to both (producing and limiting attempts)," Foligno said. "Larsen was a big part of teaching that to me - how quickly can I get back to be an option and it's amazing how quick you can break out when you do that. It's not so much just getting on the forecheck, it's coming back and being a good option for your D and being quick out of your end. That creates more offensive opportunities."
Larsen has also earned kudos from John Tortorella. The head coach looks to Larsen to run a lot of practice at times. Larsen has also taken the initiative to check in on guys who are fighting to get back into the lineup and keep their minds sharp and focused.
"Larsen is one of two really good assistant coaches we have," Tortorella said. "I don't even consider them assistant coaches. You're with these players so long, you need a different voice (than just mine). You need a different way the message is projected."
And with Larsen signing a contract extension this summer that will keep him with the Blue Jackets through the 2017-18 season, the team can count on having his voice to listen to going forward.