Former NHL Player, Coach and ESPN Analyst Barry Melrose Dies at 70

Barry Melrose, the former Los Angeles Kings coach and longtime ESPN hockey analyst, died Wednesday at the age of 70.

Barry Melrose, a former NHL defenseman and head coach who became a signature voice for ESPN’s hockey coverage, died Wednesday at age 70, his wife, Cindy, confirmed to Steve Levy. Melrose retired from the network in 2023 following a Parkinson's disease diagnosis. He joined ESPN in 1996 and spent over 25 years as a studio analyst, frequently appearing alongside John Buccigross and Levy for All-Star Games and the Stanley Cup Final.

As an NHL head coach, Melrose compiled a career record of 84-108-29. He led the Wayne Gretzky-captained Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993 during his first of three seasons with the franchise. In 2008, he briefly returned to coaching for a 16-game stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning. His coaching career also included a 1991 Calder Cup championship with the Adirondack Red Wings and a 1988 Memorial Cup title with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

During his 11-year professional playing career, Melrose recorded 10 goals, 33 points, and 728 penalty minutes across 300 NHL games with the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings. He also appeared in 178 WHA games, totaling five goals and 32 points. A native of Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Melrose is survived by his wife and two sons, Tyrell and Adrien.