Former NHL Coach, ESPN Broadcaster Barry Melrose Dies at 70

Barry Melrose, the former NHL player, coach and longtime ESPN hockey analyst, has died at 70, his wife informed the network. ESPN did not formally identify Parkinson’s disease as the cause of death, although Melrose retired from the network in 2023 after being diagnosed with the illness. A rugged defenseman who played 300 NHL games, he became best known for coaching the Los Angeles Kings, including Wayne Gretzky, to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final, and briefly coaching the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008. His career also included playing for Detroit and coaching the organization’s top minor-league affiliate to a championship. Melrose joined ESPN in 1996 and became one of hockey’s most recognizable voices, known for his candid analysis, humor, distinctive suits and mullet, and passion for the sport. The NHL, ESPN colleagues and former players honored him as an influential and beloved ambassador who helped connect American audiences with hockey.