Barry Melrose, the former NHL player and coach who became one of ESPN’s most recognizable hockey analysts, has died at age 70. His wife, Cindy, informed ESPN of his death Wednesday, September 9, prompting tributes across the hockey world for a personality whose career spanned playing, championship coaching and nearly three decades on television.
Melrose retired from ESPN in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. No specific medical cause of death has been publicly announced. His death closes a hockey career that stretched from Saskatchewan and the World Hockey Association to Wayne Gretzky’s Los Angeles Kings and ESPN’s biggest NHL broadcasts.
ESPN and hockey figures pay tribute to Barry Melrose
Melrose joined ESPN in 1996 and became a fixture of its hockey coverage, appearing during NHL All-Star events, the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final alongside broadcasters including Steve Levy and John Buccigross.
ESPN remembered Melrose as one of hockey’s most distinctive and trusted voices, citing his knowledge, candor, passion and charismatic delivery.
Buccigross described Melrose as his best friend at ESPN and a big-brother figure. He said some ESPN colleagues learned of the death while at a hockey rink in Las Vegas preparing for the coming season — a poignant setting for someone whose life remained closely tied to the sport.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also remembered Melrose’s unmistakable presence, from his slicked-back mullet and goatee to his trademark long suits. The NHL’s official tribute to Barry Melrose highlighted his impact as a player, coach and broadcaster.
Parkinson’s diagnosis led to his ESPN retirement
Melrose stepped away from broadcasting in October 2023 following his Parkinson’s diagnosis. By then, he had spent more than 50 years around hockey.
Wayne Gretzky paid tribute at the time, saying Melrose had become “bigger than any team” because of his influence on the wider game.
That relationship went back to Melrose’s most famous NHL coaching season.
Melrose led Gretzky’s Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final
Melrose took over the Los Angeles Kings in 1992 and immediately led the club to a 42-27-11 record.
With Gretzky, Luc Robitaille and Kelly Hrudey among the key players, Los Angeles defeated Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history.
The Kings ultimately lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games, but the 1993 run became the defining achievement of Melrose’s NHL coaching career.
His record with Los Angeles finished at 79-101-29. He later returned to NHL coaching with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008, going 5-7-4 in 16 games before returning to ESPN. His overall NHL coaching record was 84-108-29.
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Championship success came before the NHL
Melrose began coaching in 1987 and helped lead the Medicine Hat Tigers to a Memorial Cup championship. He later coached the Seattle Thunderbirds and then the Adirondack Red Wings, winning the 1992 Calder Cup.
His path from junior hockey to the NHL reflected a career built across several levels of the sport rather than one defining job.
Barry Melrose played for Winnipeg, Toronto and Detroit
Born July 15, 1956, in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Melrose was selected 36th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1976 NHL Draft.
He instead began his professional career with the Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA, where he played three seasons and was briefly a teammate of a young Mark Messier.
Melrose later played in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. He finished with 300 regular-season games, 10 goals, 33 points and 728 penalty minutes, plus seven playoff appearances.
Melrose’s value on television went beyond his distinctive look. He could explain hockey from the perspectives of both a former player and coach, giving viewers tactical insight without making the game feel inaccessible.
His death comes as attention again turns toward major North American sports storylines, including the upcoming Patriots-Seahawks rematch and standout performances such as Jacob Misiorowski’s 104.5 mph outing for Milwaukee.
Melrose is survived by his wife, Cindy, and sons Tyrell and Adrien. For many fans, however, his legacy will remain tied to the rink: a player who became a coach, a coach who reached the Stanley Cup Final, and ultimately a broadcaster who helped make hockey understandable, entertaining and memorable for millions.
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