John Madden Retires; Hired By Montreal As A Scout

One of those players everyone likes is calling it a career and working with a team many hate.

Per the Montreal Canadiens, 13-year NHL player John Madden will join the team and scout for collegiate free agents. It's something Madden, who signed with Minnesota on August 6, 2010 and played one season for the Wild, knows all too well. The former Michigan Wolverine went undrafted before signing with the New Jersey Devils after four years of college and parlayed that into 3 Stanley Cups (two with the Devils, one with the Blackhawks in 2010).

Montreal has had limited success with signing collegiate undrafted free agents. Former Denver Pioneer Brock Trotter signed with the Canadiens midway through his sophomore year yet only played two games in the NHL before having his rights traded to Phoenix. Meanwhile, other teams like division rival Toronto (with Trotter's DU teammate Tyler Bozak) and Philadelphia (former Bemidji State forward Matt Read) have had more success with finding these gems and developing them.

At the very least, it can't hurt a team who finished last in the Eastern Conference this year.

Madden ends a career that spanned four teams - Devils, Blackhawks, Wild and Florida Panthers - and 348 points.