CLEVELAND — When the Cleveland Monsters take the ice in October for the start of the 2019-2020 season, they will have a new head coach.
The Monsters’ parent club, the Columbus Blue Jackets, announced Wednesday morning that John Madden and the organization “have mutually agreed to part ways,” as he will seek other opportunities in the National Hockey League.
“We certainly appreciate all that John has done for our organization and his contributions to the development of the young professional players in our system,” said Bill Zito, Blue Jackets associate general manager who oversees hockey operations in Cleveland.
“We wish him well in the future as he pursues other opportunities.”
In August of 2016, Madden was named the Monsters’ head coach, and over his three seasons leading the club, posted a 101-99-19-9 record and one trip to the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup Playoffs this past spring.
During Madden’s final season in Cleveland, the Monsters posted a 37-29-8-2 record (84 points) and clinched a playoff berth, their first since winning the 2016 Calder Cup Finals, on the last day of the regular season.
In the 2016-2017 season, Madden’s first in Cleveland, the Monsters missed the postseason because of a tiebreaker.
Previously, Madden spent three years as an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers, and was also a pro scout for the Panthers and Montreal Canadiens. Prior to his coaching career, Madden played 13 seasons in the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in both 2000 and 2003 and again with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.
Monsters assistant coaches Steve McCarthy and Trent Vogelhuber remain under contract and will return for the 2019-2020 season.
