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Barry Melrose, ESPN Hockey Analyst, Dies at 70
Confirmed
In Short: Former NHL player and coach Barry Melrose, a beloved figure on ESPN for 27 years, has passed away.
Barry Melrose, a former NHL player and coach, has died at the age of 70. According to a statement by ESPN, Melrose passed away on Wednesday. Melrose first joined ESPN in 1996 and remained with the network until Parkinson’s disease forced his retirement in 2023. His wife, Cindy, confirmed the news to ESPN's Steve Levy.
Melrose's career in hockey spanned both playing and coaching roles. He spent 11 seasons as a defenseman in the NHL and WHA, playing for teams such as the Cincinnati Stingers, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings. As a coach, he led the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final and had a coaching record of 84-108-29, including a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008.
The network has not yet detailed how it plans to honor Melrose on-air. Buccigross, reflecting on Melrose's passing, said, "I learned of Barry's passing while at a hockey rink in Las Vegas preparing for the upcoming NHL season." Melrose's friends, family, and loved ones are being supported during this difficult time.
What's confirmed
- Barry Melrose, the former NHL player and coach who was a beloved, longtime hockey analyst for ESPN, died Wednesday, his wife, Cindy, told ESPN's Steve Levy.
What's still developing
- A standout talent that brought experience both in the playing and coaching ranks, Melrose elevated the level of insight and analysis that made ESPN a hockey destination for American audiences for generations.
- “For decades, Barry Melrose was one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey. His knowledge of the game was deep, his candor was refreshing, and his passion was unmistakable,” ESPN’s tribute read.
- After joining ESPN as a studio analyst in 1996, he became one of the network’s most beloved figures at the network over the next 27 years.
- Barry Melrose has passed away at the age of 70 years old Barry Melrose, one of the most recognizable voices in hockey broadcasting for nearly three decades, has died.
- Still, his true calling was in the TV studio, where he became one of hockey’s beloved figures with his flashy suits and ebullient personality.