Barry Melrose, the former NHL player and coach who became one of the most recognizable voices in hockey broadcasting during 27 years at ESPN, has died at age 70. His wife, Cindy, confirmed his passing to ESPN’s Steve Levy. Melrose had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2023, which led to his retirement from broadcasting shortly after.
Before he became a household name behind the desk, Melrose spent 11 seasons as a professional defenseman, including 335 NHL games with the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings. He later turned to coaching, guiding the Los Angeles Kings and Wayne Gretzky to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final in his very first season as an NHL head coach. It was that combination of playing pedigree, coaching success, and an unmistakable personality — the mullet, the sharp suits, the candor — that made him a fixture of hockey broadcasting for nearly three decades.
Buccigross on Barry Melrose
Gretzky himself captured that impact perfectly back in 2023, when Melrose first announced his diagnosis and stepped away from ESPN.
“He’s bigger than any team,” Gretzky said in a video tribute at the time. “For decades, he’s been suiting up — and I mean suiting up — for the game, for the sport, for hockey. You see, hockey is more than a game, it’s a community — a finely tuned orchestra — and Barry was our conductor.”
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Longtime colleague John Buccigross shared a heartfelt tribute of his own on social media Wednesday night, calling Melrose far more than just a coworker.
“Barry was my best friend at ESPN. A big brother figure of rock solid values. I am shook to my core,” Buccigross wrote. “Barry gave his life to hockey and some of his ESPN family, like me, learned of his shocking death today while at a hockey rink in Las Vegas preparing for the upcoming season. Chilling and fitting — the rink was Barry’s home. A more beloved ESPN institution there has not been. We love you, Barry. Forever.”
ESPN also released a statement honoring Melrose’s decades with the network. “For decades, Barry Melrose was one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey,” the network said. “His knowledge of the game was deep, his candor was refreshing and his passion was unmistakable. He was a foundational part of ESPN’s hockey coverage, and fans and teammates truly appreciated his entertaining delivery and charismatic personality.”
Melrose is survived by his wife, Cindy, and their two sons, Tyrell and Adrien.
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