Barry Melrose, the longtime ESPN analyst and former NHL player and coach who became one of hockey's most recognizable personalities, has died. He was 70.
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Melrose's wife, Cindy, confirmed his death to ESPN's Steve Levy on Wednesday.
Melrose had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2023, prompting his retirement from ESPN after more than 25 years with the network.
"For decades, Barry Melrose was one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey," ESPN said in a statement. "His knowledge of the game was deep, his candor was refreshing, and his passion was unmistakable."
Before becoming a television fixture, he built a lengthy career on the ice and behind the bench.
He played 300 NHL games as a defenseman with the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings before moving into coaching. Melrose later took over the Los Angeles Kings and guided Wayne Gretzky and company to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final.
But it was television where Melrose became familiar even to casual hockey fans.
The unmistakable mullet, goatee, flashy suits and straightforward analysis made him one of ESPN's signature personalities after he joined the network in 1996.
John Buccigross called Melrose his "best friend at ESPN" and "a big brother figure," while Levy described him as the "unquestioned face/voice of hockey in the United States" for more than 30 years.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also remembered Melrose as someone whose personality and analysis could "boost your love of the game of hockey."
Melrose is survived by Cindy and their two sons, Tyrell and Adrien.
