Former NHL Star and ESPN Analyst Barry Melrose Dies at 70

Barry Melrose, a former NHL player, coach, and longtime sports broadcaster, has died at the age of 70. He is remembered for his entertaining commentary and contributions to hockey coverage on ESPN.

10 Sept, 01:26 — 10 Sept, 03:12

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Why this matters

Barry Melrose was a pivotal figure in professional hockey, transitioning from a rugged NHL defenseman to a transformative coach who guided the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup Final during Wayne Gretzky’s iconic tenure. His decades-long run as ESPN’s signature hockey analyst helped cement the sport’s popularity across the United States, making his passing a notable moment for sports broadcasting and hockey history. His career concluded following a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, which prompted his retirement from broadcasting in the early 2020s.

Key entitiesBarry Melrose Cindy Melrose Detroit Red Wings Los Angeles Kings ESPN Wayne Gretzky

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YahooMostly Factual45m ago

Before he was a TV Star, Melrose was a Red Wings defenseman

Barry Melrose, Detroit Red Wings defenseman? Really? Really. To a generation of hockey fans, Melrose was the voice of the […]

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varietyMostly Factual1h ago

Barry Melrose, Former ESPN Analyst and Hockey Pro, Dies at 70

Barry Melrose, a former NHL player, coach and longtime ESPN analyst, died Wednesday. He was 70. Melrose’s wife, Cindy, confirmed his death to ESPN. “For decades, Barry Melrose was one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey,” wrote ESPN in a statement. “His knowledge of the game was deep, his candor was refreshing, […]

By Payton Turkeltaub

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hollywood-reporterMostly Factual2h ago

Barry Melrose, Entertaining ESPN Hockey Analyst, Dies at 70

After 11 pro seasons as a rugged player, he led the L.A. Kings to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season as an NHL coach, then handled colorful commentary from 1994-2022.

By Carly Thomas

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deadlineMostly Factual2h ago

Barry Melrose Dies: Gretzky-Era L.A. Kings Coach And Longtime ESPN Hockey Analyst Was 70

Barry Melrose, who coached the Wayne Gretzky-led Los Angeles Kings team that helped put the NHL and hockey on the map in the U.S., and who later became ESPN’s signature hockey analyst for almost two decades, died Wednesday. He was 70. Melrose retired from ESPN after an almost two-decade broadcasting career after he revealed just […]

By Patrick Hipes

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tmzMixed1h ago

Former NHL Player and Coach Barry Melrose Dead at 70

Barry Melrose, the former NHL player, coach and longtime ESPN hockey analyst, has died ... his wife, Cindy, told ESPN. Melrose joined ESPN in 1996 and retired in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He was best known for coaching…

By TMZ Staff

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