NHL legend Barry Melrose has died
Former NHL player, coach, and long-time ESPN analyst Barry Melrose has died at the age of 70.
Melrose’s death was confirmed to American media by his wife. Melrose had withdrawn from public life in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Melrose is best remembered as a long-time analyst for ESPN’s NHL broadcasts. He joined the network in the mid-1990s and worked on television for nearly three decades.
His distinctive presentation style, outspoken opinions, and flashy hairstyle made Melrose one of the most recognizable figures in American hockey television.
Before his television career, Melrose had a long career in hockey as a player and coach. The Canadian defenseman played in 300 regular-season games in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings.
As head coach, Melrose’s greatest achievement came in the 1992–93 season when he led the Wayne Gretzky-led Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup finals. Melrose coached the Kings for three seasons.
Melrose returned to the NHL bench in the 2008–09 season when the Tampa Bay Lightning hired him as their head coach. However, the tenure was brief. Melrose coached the Lightning for only 16 games, of which the team won five.
After his dismissal, he returned to ESPN and did not coach in the NHL again.
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