Barry Melrose, a former hockey player and coach who guided the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final prior to a lengthy broadcasting career, has passed away at the age of 70. ESPN confirmed his death on Wednesday after receiving the news from his wife. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman praised Melrose as an unforgettable figure known for his signature style and ability to enhance fans’ love for hockey. Melrose retired from his analyst position in 2023 following a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, prompting Wayne Gretzky to remark at the time that he was larger than any team. ESPN remembered him as one of the sport’s most trusted and unique voices, celebrated for his humor, candor, and deep expertise. Hailing from Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Melrose began his professional career in 1976 with the WHA’s Cincinnati Stingers, later moving to the NHL with Winnipeg in 1979 after the WHA folded. He also played for Toronto and Detroit before retiring after the 1985-86 season. Across 300 NHL regular-season games, he accumulated 10 goals, 33 points, and 728 penalty minutes, adding seven playoff appearances, alongside 178 WHA games with five goals, 32 points, and 343 penalty minutes. Transitioning to coaching, he led the Adirondack Red Wings to a Calder Cup title in the American Hockey League in 1992. In 1993, he took over the Los Angeles Kings, leading a Gretzky-led squad to the Stanley Cup Final before falling to Montreal in five games. He concluded his two-plus seasons in L.A. with a 79-101-29 record prior to his dismissal during the 1994-95 campaign. Joining ESPN in 1996, Melrose briefly returned to coaching with the Tampa Bay Lightning during Steven Stamkos’ 2008-09 rookie season, but returned to broadcasting after going 5-7-4 in his first 16 games. Outside of hockey, he excelled in fast-pitch softball during the offseason in Saskatchewan alongside fellow Kelvington-area NHL players like Wendel Clark, Joey Kocur, Kelly Chase, and Kevin Kaminski.
Source: cbsnews.com
