Barry Melrose, the former NHL defenseman and coach who led the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final before becoming one of hockey's most recognizable television analysts, died Wednesday. He was 70.
His wife, Cindy, informed ESPN's Steve Levy of his death, and ESPN announced it Wednesday. Melrose stepped away from his analyst role in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
A career that stretched decades
Melrose was born July 15, 1956, in Kelvington, Saskatchewan. He broke into professional hockey with the Cincinnati Stingers of the World Hockey Association in 1976, playing three seasons there before moving to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets in 1979. He went on to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, ending his playing career after the 1985-86 season. In 300 career NHL regular-season games, he recorded 10 goals, 33 points and 728 penalty minutes.
After retiring as a player, Melrose began coaching, leading the Medicine Hat Tigers to a Memorial Cup title in his first season in 1987 and the Adirondack Red Wings to the Calder Cup championship in 1992. He was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Kings in 1992, and in his first season he guided a Wayne Gretzky-led team to the franchise's first Stanley Cup Final. The Kings lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games. Melrose coached the Kings for parts of two more seasons and later had a brief run as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he was fired after 16 games during the 2008-09 season.
He joined ESPN in 1996 and spent nearly three decades as a studio analyst, becoming known for his mullet, flashy suits and candid analysis. He retired from the network in 2023.
Tributes from the hockey world
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman released a statement mourning Melrose's passing. "From the flowing locks of his distinctive mullet to the flared lapels of his trademark long suit coats, Barry Melrose cut an unmistakable figure whenever you were fortunate enough to run into him at a rink or catch him on your television screen," Bettman said. "You were even more fortunate if you engaged him in conversation or listened to his analysis, because he never failed to boost your love of the game of hockey." Bettman sent condolences to Melrose's wife, Cindy, and their sons, Tyrell and Adrien.
ESPN said in a statement: "For decades, Barry Melrose was one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey. His knowledge of the game was deep, his candor was refreshing, and his passion was unmistakable. He was a foundational part of ESPN's hockey coverage, and fans and teammates truly appreciated his entertaining delivery and charismatic personality."
Wayne Gretzky, at the time of Melrose's retirement, said he was "bigger than any team." "He's been suiting up — and I mean suiting up — for the game, for the sport, for hockey," Gretzky said. "You see, hockey is more than a game, it's a community — a finely tuned orchestra — and Barry was our conductor."
Longtime ESPN broadcaster John Buccigross posted on X: "Barry was my best friend at ESPN. 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."
Steve Levy, who worked alongside Melrose for decades on ESPN's NHL coverage, also paid tribute, saying, "For more than 30 years Barry was the unquestioned face/voice of hockey in the United States. He was a man of the people, a family man, a part of my family. Tonight I'll toast the kid from Kelvington who made it big but never forgot his roots."
The Detroit Red Wings, for whom Melrose played parts of two seasons and whose AHL affiliate he coached to a Calder Cup, said in a social media post: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Barry Melrose. Barry played parts of two seasons with Detroit and was a Calder Cup-winning coach with the Adirondack Red Wings. He would go on to have an immeasurable impact on the entire hockey world as a beloved TV analyst."
Public battle with Parkinson's
Melrose announced in October 2023 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and was retiring from broadcasting. In a statement at the time, he said, "I've had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world's greatest game, hockey. It's now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife Cindy, and whatever comes next."
Melrose is survived by his wife and two sons.