Barry Melrose, Former NHL Coach and ESPN Analyst, Dies at 70
The former player and coach joined ESPN in 1996 and retired in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Barry Melrose, the former NHL player and coach who became a longtime ESPN hockey analyst, has died at 70, ESPN reported. His wife, Cindy, told the network he died on Wednesday.
Melrose joined ESPN in 1996 and became a prominent figure in its hockey coverage, working alongside analysts including Steve Levy and John Buccigross. He was recognised for his distinctive presentation style and commentary across All-Star Games and Stanley Cup coverage.
He retired from ESPN in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The material does not state that the condition caused his death.
Melrose coached the Los Angeles Kings from 1992 to 1995, taking the team to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season. He briefly returned to coaching in 2008, serving as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning for 16 games.
Earlier in his coaching career, Melrose led the Medicine Hat Tigers to a WHL Memorial Cup title and the Adirondack Red Wings to a 1991 Calder Cup championship. As a player, he appeared in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, and also played in the WHA.
