Former NHL Coach, ESPN Broadcaster Barry Melrose Dies at 70
Barry Melrose, the longtime NHL player, coach and Emmy-winning ESPN analyst, has died at 70 after battling Parkinson’s disease diagnosed in 2023, with tributes praising his passion for hockey and his distinctive mullet and persona. He was instrumental in Detroit’s early turnaround and became a defining figure for ESPN’s hockey coverage, garnering colorful praise from colleagues and legends alike.
Sports · 81 sources · Sep 13, 2026Read itThe journal
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About Barry Melrose
Barry James Melrose was a Canadian-American professional ice hockey player, coach, and broadcaster. Melrose played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) and National Hockey League (NHL). After retiring from playing, he became a head coach and is best known for being the coach of the Los Angeles Kings in their run to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final. Until 2023, he was a long-time commentator and hockey analyst for ESPN as well as a contributor for the NHL Network.
Everything about Barry Melrose →- Occupation
- ice hockey player, sports commentator, ice hockey coach
- Citizenship
- Canada
- Born
- July 15, 1956