Barry Melrose Dies at 70

Barry Melrose, a prominent figure in professional hockey as a player, coach, and longtime broadcaster, died Wednesday at the age of 70. His wife, Cindy, informed ESPN’s Steve Levy, and the network announced his passing. Melrose had retired from broadcasting in 2023 after revealing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Melrose's career spanned over five decades. He played defense in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings, appearing in 300 regular-season games and recording 33 points and 728 penalty minutes. He also played in the World Hockey Association for the Cincinnati Stingers. Transitioning to coaching, Melrose led the Adirondack Red Wings to a Calder Cup championship in the American Hockey League in 1992. His most notable coaching achievement came in the 1992-93 season when he guided the Los Angeles Kings, featuring Wayne Gretzky, to the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Montreal Canadiens. He also had a brief 16-game stint coaching the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008-09. Following his coaching career, Melrose became a beloved and recognizable voice on ESPN's hockey coverage, joining the network in 1996.