Barry Melrose, the former NHL defenseman and coach who became one of hockey’s most recognizable and beloved television analysts during nearly 30 years at ESPN, died Wednesday. He was 70.
His wife, Cindy, informed longtime ESPN partner Steve Levy of Melrose’s death. Melrose had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2023, a diagnosis that forced his retirement from the network he first joined in 1996.
ESPN called him “one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey,” praising his deep knowledge, candor, and unmistakable passion. Colleagues and the league echoed that assessment. Longtime studio partner John Buccigross described Melrose as his “best friend at ESPN” and “a big brother figure of rock solid values.”
Melrose’s broadcasting career defined his public legacy. After a brief guest stint, he became a fixture on ESPN’s hockey coverage from 1996 onward, working regularly with Levy and Buccigross on studio shows, All-Star Games, playoffs, and Stanley Cup Finals. Known for flamboyant suits, a slicked-back mullet, a goatee, and an everyman style that mixed sharp analysis with humor, he helped introduce the sport to a wider American audience during ESPN’s long run as hockey’s primary national home. He also contributed to NHL Network.
He won a Sports Emmy and remained a constant presence until he stepped away in October 2023. Before television, Melrose coached. Hired by the Los Angeles Kings in 1992 at age 35, he guided Wayne Gretzky’s team to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final in his first season, defeating Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto before falling to Montreal in five games. He compiled a 79-101-29 record over two-plus seasons in Los Angeles before being fired mid-1994-95.