Barry Melrose, Former L.A. Kings Coach and Longtime ESPN Hockey Analyst, Dies at 70
Barry Melrose, the former professional hockey player and coach who guided Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final before becoming one of ESPN’s most recognizable hockey analysts, has died. He was 70.
ESPN announced Melrose’s death after being informed by his wife, Cindy. He died on Wednesday, September 9, following complications from Parkinson’s disease. Melrose had stepped away from broadcasting in 2023 after publicly revealing his diagnosis. (apnews.com)
ESPN Remembers a Distinctive Hockey Voice
Melrose joined ESPN in 1996 and spent approximately 27 years with the sports network, apart from a brief return to coaching in 2008.
With his trademark mullet, goatee, colorful suits and straightforward delivery, he became one of the most distinctive personalities in American hockey broadcasting. His ability to combine detailed analysis with humor and an obvious passion for the sport helped make hockey more accessible to casual viewers.
In a statement mourning his death, ESPN described Melrose as one of hockey’s most trusted and recognizable voices. The network praised his extensive knowledge, refreshing candor and charismatic presence, calling him a foundational figure in its hockey coverage. (ESPN Press Room)
Melrose regularly appeared alongside prominent ESPN personalities including Steve Levy and John Buccigross. He covered NHL All-Star Games, the Stanley Cup Playoffs and numerous Stanley Cup Finals during his broadcasting career.
Playing Career Began in the WHA
Born on July 15, 1956, in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Melrose grew up on a farm before establishing a career in professional hockey.
The Montreal Canadiens selected the rugged defenseman with the 36th overall pick in the 1976 NHL Draft. However, he began his professional career with the Cincinnati Stingers of the World Hockey Association, where he played for three seasons.
Following the collapse of the WHA, Melrose moved to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets in 1979. He later played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.
Melrose appeared in 300 regular-season NHL games, recording 10 goals, 23 assists and 728 penalty minutes. He also played 178 games in the WHA and continued competing in the minor leagues before ending his playing career. (apnews.com)
Coaching Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings
After retiring as a player, Melrose moved behind the bench and quickly demonstrated his ability as a coach.
He began his coaching career with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League and guided the team to the Memorial Cup championship in 1988. He later coached the Adirondack Red Wings, leading them to the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup title in 1992.
That success earned him the head coaching position with the Los Angeles Kings ahead of the 1992–93 NHL season.
In his first year in Los Angeles, Melrose guided a talented Kings roster led by Wayne Gretzky through a memorable postseason. The team defeated the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history.
The Kings ultimately lost the championship series to the Montreal Canadiens in five games, but the playoff run became one of the defining achievements of Melrose’s coaching career.
He coached the Kings for parts of three seasons, finishing his tenure in Los Angeles with 79 victories. (apnews.com)
Brief Return to NHL Coaching
After building a successful second career at ESPN, Melrose returned to coaching in 2008 when the Tampa Bay Lightning hired him.
His time in Tampa was short-lived. He was dismissed after only 16 games, having recorded five wins, seven losses and four overtime defeats. He soon returned to ESPN and resumed his familiar role as a studio analyst.
Across his NHL coaching career with the Kings and Lightning, Melrose compiled a record of 84 wins, 108 losses, 29 ties and four overtime losses.
Retirement Following Parkinson’s Diagnosis
In October 2023, Melrose announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and was retiring from ESPN to concentrate on his health and family.
At the time, he reflected on more than five decades spent playing, coaching and analyzing hockey. He expressed gratitude for his extraordinary career and said it was time to focus on his wife, Cindy, and whatever came next. (NHL.com)
Wayne Gretzky paid tribute to Melrose following the announcement, observing that his former coach had become bigger than any individual team because of his contributions to the sport.
Tributes From Across the Hockey Community
Following news of Melrose’s death, prominent figures throughout hockey remembered him as an original personality whose enthusiasm strengthened other people’s love for the game.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman recalled Melrose’s unmistakable appearance and captivating personality, noting that conversations with him inevitably increased a person’s appreciation for hockey.
Los Angeles Kings president Luc Robitaille described Melrose as a beacon for the sport and credited him with helping hockey grow in popularity across the United States.
ESPN presenter Steve Levy remembered Melrose as the unquestioned face and voice of hockey in America for more than three decades, as well as a close friend and devoted family man.
John Buccigross called him a beloved ESPN institution and a big-brother figure who had dedicated his life to hockey. (NHL.com)
A Hockey Original
Barry Melrose occupied nearly every important position in professional hockey. He competed as a hard-nosed defenseman, developed into a championship-winning minor-league coach, led Gretzky’s Kings to the Stanley Cup Final and later explained the sport to millions of television viewers.
His distinctive appearance made him instantly recognizable, but it was his knowledge, humor, honesty and deep affection for hockey that made him an enduring favorite.
Melrose is survived by his wife, Cindy, and their sons, Tyrell and Adrien. His death leaves the hockey community without one of its most colorful and influential ambassadors, but his unmistakable voice and remarkable contribution to the game will not be forgotten.
