Barry Melrose, the former NHL player and coach who became a beloved longtime hockey analyst for ESPN, died Wednesday at the age of 70, his wife Cindy told ESPN's Steve Levy. Melrose's cause of death was not disclosed in the information provided. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2023, which led to his retirement from ESPN. He had joined the network in 1996. ESPN paid tribute to Melrose following his death, calling him “one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey” and praising his deep knowledge, candor and passion for the sport. “His knowledge of the game was deep, his candor was refreshing, and his passion was unmistakable,” ESPN said. “He was a foundational part of ESPN's hockey coverage.” Melrose served as coach of the Wayne Gretzky-led Los Angeles Kings from 1992 to 1995, taking the team to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season. He later briefly stepped away from ESPN in 2008 to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning for 16 games. Overall, Melrose recorded an 84-108-29 record as an NHL head coach. His coaching career began in 1987 when he led the Medicine Hat Tigers to the WHL's Memorial Cup title. He later coached the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Adirondack Red Wings, winning the Calder Cup championship in 1991. Melrose also spent 11 years as a player. He appeared in 335 career games as a defenseman in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings between 1979 and 1986. He also played three seasons with Cincinnati in the WHA. At ESPN, Melrose became widely recognized for his witty personality, flashy suits, goatee, slicked-back hair and mullet. He regularly worked alongside Steve Levy and John Buccigross on the network's hockey coverage. Buccigross remembered Melrose as his best friend at ESPN and a “big brother figure,” writing on social media, “Barry gave his life to hockey.” Gretzky also paid tribute to Melrose when he retired from ESPN, saying: “He's bigger than any team.” “You see, hockey is more than a game, it's a community,” Gretzky said. “And Barry was our conductor.” Naman is a copy editor at Times Now, with over three years experience in covering US News, politics, global affairs, sports, and other domains. Apart ... View More