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Melrose, NHL coach, Emmy-winning broadcaster for ESPN, dies at 70
nhl.com • • general
Key Points:
- Barry Melrose, former NHL coach and Emmy Award-winning ESPN hockey analyst, died at age 70 after retiring in 2023 due to Parkinson’s disease.
- Melrose coached the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final and had a notable playing career with 300 NHL games before transitioning to coaching and broadcasting.
- He spent 27 years at ESPN, becoming a beloved figure known for his distinctive mullet, suits, humor, and passionate hockey analysis alongside Steve Levy and John Buccigross.
- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and hockey legends like Wayne Gretzky and Luc Robitaille praised Melrose’s impact on the sport and his role in growing hockey’s popularity in the U.S.
- Melrose’s family, colleagues, and the hockey community mourn his passing, celebrating his lifelong dedication to the game and his enduring legacy.
