Barry Melrose, the former NHL player, coach and longtime ESPN hockey analyst, has died at the age of 70. His wife, Cindy Melrose, confirmed his death to ESPN, according to NHL.com. Melrose retired from ESPN in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Melrose became widely recognized for leading the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final while coaching Wayne Gretzky. He later became one of hockey’s most recognizable television personalities after joining ESPN in 1996, where his distinctive suits, mullet and outspoken analysis made him a fan favorite.
Before becoming a broadcaster, Melrose played 300 NHL games for the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. His coaching career included the Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning, but his greatest success came during Los Angeles’ memorable 1992-93 campaign.
ESPN became the other defining chapter of Melrose’s career. The network described him as a distinctive and trusted voice whose enthusiasm for hockey helped make him a beloved figure among viewers.
When Melrose retired in 2023, he said he had spent
“over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world’s greatest game, hockey.”
