Barry Melrose, former NHL defenseman and renowned television analyst, passed away at the age of 70. Melrose, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2023, retired from broadcasting after his diagnosis. His passing was announced by ESPN on Wednesday.
Melrose was born on July 15, 1956, in Kelvington, Saskatchewan. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the 1976 NHL Draft. He initially began his professional hockey career with the Cincinnati Stingers in the World Hockey Association (WHA), where he played for three seasons. After the WHA folded, he transitioned to the NHL, debuting with the Winnipeg Jets in 1979. He later played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.
As a defenseman, Melrose was recognized more for his strategic play than his scoring. He played 300 NHL games, achieving 10 goals and 33 points, and amassed 728 penalty minutes. In his WHA stint with Cincinnati, he scored five goals and attained 32 points in 178 games.
Coaching became Melrose’s avenue to greater recognition. He began coaching with the Medicine Hat Tigers in 1987 and won the Memorial Cup in his debut season. He later coached the Seattle Thunderbirds and Adirondack Red Wings, leading Adirondack to the 1992 Calder Cup victory.
Melrose’s most notable coaching role was with the Los Angeles Kings, starting in the 1992-93 season. He quickly turned around the team’s performance, leading them to the Stanley Cup Final in his first year. The Kings overcame Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto before falling to the Montreal Canadiens in a five-game series. Melrose coached the Kings for two additional seasons but did not reach the playoffs.
For many fans, Melrose’s impact as a broadcaster defined his legacy. In 1996, he joined ESPN, where he worked for 27 years as an analyst. Known for his hockey expertise, humor, and distinct appearance, he covered All-Star Games, Stanley Cup playoffs, and Finals, often alongside Steve Levy and John Buccigross.
John Buccigross shared his condolences on Twitter/X, expressing the deep bond he and others at ESPN had with Melrose. “Barry was my best friend at ESPN,” he wrote. “A big brother figure of rock solid values. I am shook to my core. Barry gave his life to hockey and some of his ESPN family, like me, learned of his shocking death today while at a hockey rink in Las Vegas preparing for the upcoming season. Chilling and fitting–the rink was Barry’s home. A more beloved ESPN institution there has not been. We love you, Barry. Forever.”
Melrose briefly left ESPN in 2008 to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning but was terminated after the team began 5-7-4. He returned to ESPN and continued there until his retirement in 2023.
Bill Hofheimer, ESPN’s vice president of public relations, also paid tribute. “Barry Melrose was beloved by our team at ESPN and throughout the hockey community,” he shared on Twitter/X. “He worked for ESPN for nearly three decades. He loved the sport and brought so much enjoyment to fans.”
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