The Cleveland Monsters will have a new head coach next season.
In a release issued Wednesday morning, the Blue Jackets announced they were "mutually parting ways" with Monsters coach John Madden, who just completed his third season behind the bench in Cleveland. Madden was hired by associate GM Bill Zito to replace Jared Bednar, who left in August 2016 to coach the Colorado Avalanche.
Madden made the Calder Cup Playoffs once in three seasons with Cleveland. The previous season, the Monsters won the championship with several players who would eventually graduate to the NHL.
Madden, who was named head coach of the Monsters in August 2016, compiled a 101-99-19-9 record in three seasons, including a 37-29-8-2 record (84 points) this past season. The club also advanced to the second round of the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs after missing out on the post-season in the previous two campaigns. In 2016-17, Cleveland went 39-29-4-4 (86 points) and missed out on the playoffs via tie-breaker.
It was an inconsistent, at times frustrating tenure for Madden and the Monsters. While he didn't have the success (and the talent) that Bednar did, it's clear the organization expected more from its AHL affiliate. The Blue Jackets' release states that Madden will be pursuing other opportunities in the NHL next season.
Current assistants Steve McCarthy and Trent Vogelhuber are under contract and will return in the same capacity next season.
