Barry Melrose, the distinctive mullet-sporting NHL coach and longtime ESPN broadcaster who brought hockey to a mainstream American audience, died Wednesday at age 70, his wife, Cindy, confirmed to ESPN’s Steve Levy, following a battle with Parkinson’s disease. His career spanned an 11-year playing stint, a famous 1993 Stanley Cup Final run with Los Angeles, and nearly three decades on television.
A Distinctive Figure and Pillar of Hockey Broadcasting
Barry Melrose cut an unmistakable figure across professional hockey rinks and television screens for decades. “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,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. Known for his sense of humor as well as the mullet and fancy suits, Melrose became a star on ESPN, endearing himself to hockey fans everywhere. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman noted that 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.
Born in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Melrose was selected in the second round of the 1976 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens, though his NHL debut came in 1979 with the Winnipeg Jets. Over an 11-year professional career, Melrose played 335 NHL games as a rugged defenseman with the Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, in addition to three seasons with Cincinnati in the World Hockey Association, giving him 478 total games across both leagues. A rangy and rugged defenseman from Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Barry fashioned an 11-year pro career in the NHL, AHL and WHA. Yet his transition to coaching and broadcasting ultimately defined his lasting footprint on the sport.
The 1993 Stanley Cup Run With Wayne Gretzky and the Kings
Melrose transitioned into coaching in 1987, guiding the Medicine Hat Tigers to the Western Hockey League’s Memorial Cup championship in his first season behind the bench. He landed his biggest coaching opportunity in 1992.
Photo: ca.sports.yahoo.com
The Kings hired Melrose in 1992 at 35 as a first-time head coach. Melrose coached the L.A. Kings the franchise’s first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 1993, Gretzky’s fifth season in Los Angeles after arriving in a monumental trade with Edmonton. It was Melrose’s first season with the club; he would coach two more seasons in L.A. before turning his attention to TV.
An Institution and Beloved Presence at ESPN
Following his time in Los Angeles, Melrose transitioned into broadcasting, spending 27 years at ESPN. He became a foundational studio analyst, pairing his deep hockey expertise with an entertaining, candid delivery. Sporting a mullet, big bright pinstriped suits and with plenty to say, the Saskatchewan-born Melrose became a favorite on ESPN’s hockey coverage almost from the beginning when he joined in 1994; the network’s coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs that year won a Sports Emmy. He began a full-time role in October 1996, and he appeared regularly on SportsCenter and NHL studio shows often with ESPNers like Steve Levy and John Buccigross, and also called regular-season and playoff games for ESPN and ABC Sports. Countless American fans were raised on Melrose’s informative but informal segments — often with his longtime friend Steve Levy — during the 1990s and 2000s.
Retirement, Health Battle, and Tributes Across the Hockey World
Melrose retired from ESPN after an almost two-decade broadcasting career after he revealed just before the start of the 2023-24 NHL season that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Announcing his departure at the time, Melrose reflected on the scope of his career in the sport.
Hockey Legend Barry Melrose Dies at 70 – A Tribute to His Incredible Life #BarryMelrose #NHL #Hockey
“I’ve had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world’s greatest game, hockey. It’s now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife Cindy, and whatever comes next. I’m beyond grateful for my hockey career, and to have called ESPN home for almost 30 years. Thanks for the incredible memories and I’ll now be cheering for you from the stands.”
Tributes poured in following the news of his death. 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.” He's bigger than any team, Gretzky said in a video the day Melrose announced his Parkinson’s diagnosis. For decades, he's been suiting up — and I mean suiting up — for the game, for the sport, for hockey. … You see, hockey is more than a game, it's a community — a finely tuned orchestra — and Barry was our conductor.We mourn the passing of a hockey original. And we send our deepest condolences to his wife, Cindy, their sons, Tyrell and Adrien, and all of his teammates, colleagues and admirers around the hockey world, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stated.
Barry Melrose Dies at 70: NHL & ESPN Legend Remembered | Detroit Red Wings
