Brad Larsen was fired by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
The Blue Jackets finished the season with a 25-48-9 record, last in the Eastern Conference.
Goalie coach Manny Legace was also fired.
No replacements were named.
“This season has been extremely disappointing and the responsibility for that lies with all of us,” general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. “These decisions were difficult and not made lightly given our respect for both Brad and Manny as coaches and people. Brad has been part of our organization for more than a decade, and we are extremely thankful for his hard work and many contributions – both on and off the ice – during that time. We wish nothing but the best for Brad and his family in the future.”
Larsen, 45, was 62-86-16 in his two season as coach after replacing John Tortorella on June 10, 2021. He had been an assistant to Tortorella for the previous seven seasons in Columbus.
Before coming to Columbus, he was coach of the Columbus’ American Hockey League team in Springfield from 2012-14.
The Blue Jackets signed forward Johnny Gaudreau to a seven-year contract July 13 and restricted free agent Patrik Laine to a four-year contract four days later. They missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a third straight seasons following four consecutive appearances.
Gaudreau leads Columbus with 74 points (21 goals, 53 assists) and Laine was second with 52 points (22 goals, 30 assists).
The Blue Jackets were 30th in the NHL with an average of 2.60 goals per game and were 31st with an average of allowing 4.09 goals per game.
Legace, a former NHL goalie, has been the Blue Jackets’ goaltending coach the past five seasons.
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