The Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, named former NHLer John Madden their new head coach, the team announced Monday.

He'll replace Jared Bednar, who coached the Monsters to a Calder Cup title last season before leaving to fill the Colorado Avalanche's head coaching vacancy.

Madden has spent the last three seasons as an assistant with the Florida Panthers, and played in the NHL for 12 seasons, most notably with the New Jersey Devils, with whom he won three Stanley Cups and a Selke Award.

"John Madden has a winning pedigree," Blue Jackets assistant general manager Bill Zito said, "having been a part of three Stanley Cup championships and a collegiate national championship as a player and being a part of the coaching staff that helped the Florida Panthers become one of the NHL's most improved clubs over the past three seasons. He is a smart, energetic young coach who we believe to be the best person to lead our prospects in Cleveland."

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