Barry Melrose, former NHL coach and longtime ESPN analyst, dies at 70
ESPN said Melrose, a longtime hockey analyst and former Kings coach, died after a 27-year career in broadcasting and coaching.
- Barry Melrose, the former NHL player and coach who became a beloved ESPN hockey analyst, died Wednesday at 70. His wife, Cindy, confirmed the death to ESPN's Steve Levy.
- Melrose, who served as head coach for the Wayne Gretzky-led Los Angeles Kings, led the team to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993 during his first season. He compiled an 84-108-29 record as a head coach.
- His 11-year playing career included over 300 NHL games as a defenseman. He led the Medicine Hat Tigers to a Memorial Cup title in 1987 and guided the Adirondack Red Wings to a 1991 Calder Cup championship.
- Renowned for his flashy suits and wit, Melrose frequently covered Stanley Cup playoffs alongside Levy and John Buccigross. Wayne Gretzky called him the "conductor" of the hockey community.
- Melrose stepped away from ESPN in 2023 following his Parkinson's disease diagnosis. His legacy spans decades as both a player and broadcaster who remained dedicated to hockey throughout his career.
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LancasterOnline'Nobody was cooler' than former Kings coach and beloved broadcaster Barry Melrose, who sold the US on hockey
Barry Melrose was never an NHL All-Star.
Barry Melrose, former Adirondack Red Wings player and coach, dies at 70
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. — Barry Melrose spent much of his hockey career moving between the ice, the bench and the television studio, but his connection to Glens Falls remained a constant. Melrose, who played more than 200 games for the Adirondack Red Wings and later coached the team to a Calder Cup championship, has died at age 70. ESPN announced his death Wednesday after being informed by his wife Cindy. Melrose stepped away from his longtime broadca…
NEWS HEADLINES: NHL Legend Dead At 70
Barry Melrose, a former NHL player and coach who became an Emmy Award-winning hockey analyst with ESPN, has passed away. He was 70. Melrose retired from ESPN in 2023 after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. His career at the company spanned over 25 years. “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 …
ESPN Hosts in Shock After Beloved Former NHL Player and Analyst Barry Melrose Dies at 70
Melrose joined the network in 1996 Barry Melrose on Feb. 28, 2014 in Chicago, IllinoisCredit: Patrick McDermott/NHLI via GettyNEED TO KNOWESPN is mourning the loss of their longtime host Barry MelroseMelrose, a former NHL player, died at age 70 on Wednesday, Sept. 9, his wife Cindy confirmed to his friend Steve Levy at ESPN“Barry gave his life to hockey and some of his ESPN family, like me, learned of his shocking death today while at a hockey r…
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