Barry Melrose Dies: Gretzky-Era L.A. Kings Coach And Longtime ESPN Hockey Analyst Was 70
Barry Melrose, who coached the Wayne Gretzky-led Los Angeles Kings team that helped put the NHL and hockey on the map in the U.S., and who later became ESPN’s signature hockey analyst for almost two decades, died Wednesday. He was 70. Melrose retired from ESPN after an almost two-decade broadcasting career after he revealed just […]
Barry Melrose, a former NHL player and coach, passed away at the age of 70 after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. His death was confirmed by his wife, Cindy, to ESPN, his long-time employer. ESPN expressed their condolences, stating that Melrose was one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey. He joined ESPN as a lead hockey analyst and commentator in 1996 and retired from broadcasting in 2023.
Before his broadcasting career, Melrose coached the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season. He also briefly returned to coaching in 2008, leading the Tampa Bay Lightning for 16 games. Apart from coaching, Melrose was a professional hockey player for 11 seasons, playing for the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings.
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