Barry Melrose, Longtime ESPN Hockey Analyst, Dies at 70

Barry Melrose, the former NHL defenseman and coach who became one of hockey’s most recognizable TV voices, died Wednesday. He was 70.

His wife, Cindy, told ESPN’s Steve Levy. Melrose retired from the network in 2023 after a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.

“For decades, Barry Melrose was one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey,” ESPN said in a statement. “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. We send our deepest condolences to his loved ones. He always kept it interesting and he will be missed.”

Melrose was born July 15, 1956, in Kelvington, Saskatchewan. He played defense for the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings and in the WHA. After coaching in junior hockey and winning a Calder Cup with the AHL’s Adirondack Red Wings in 1991, he took over the Los Angeles Kings in 1992 and reached the Stanley Cup Final in his first season with Wayne Gretzky. The Kings lost to Montreal in five games. He later coached the Tampa Bay Lightning for 16 games in 2008-09.

His bigger mark was the TV studio.

Melrose joined ESPN in 1996 and spent more than 25 years there, working with Steve Levy and John Buccigross through All-Star Games, playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final. The mullet, the long coats and the straight talk made him a fixture for a generation of U.S. fans who learned the game of hockey on cable television.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman called him “a hockey original.” Rightfully so.

“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.”

Buccigross posted Wednesday night that Melrose was his best friend at ESPN.