Barry Melrose, who transitioned from NHL participant and coach to ESPN hockey analyst, has died on the age of 70.
Melrose handed away on Wednesday, his spouse Cindy informed ESPN. He was identified with Parkinson’s illness in 2023 and retired from the community that very same yr.
After his NHL enjoying profession wrapped up within the Nineteen Eighties, Melrose turned to teaching, main the Los Angeles Kings — with star participant Wayne Gretzky — to the Stanley Cup Ultimate in 1993. He joined ESPN in 1996, ultimately serving because the community’s major hockey analyst, providing colour commentary throughout video games in addition to studio evaluation. He briefly stepped away from ESPN in 2008 to educate the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier than returning to the community the next yr.
“For many years, Barry Melrose was one of the crucial distinctive and trusted voices in hockey,” ESPN stated in an announcement. “His information of the sport was deep, his candor was refreshing, and his ardour was unmistakable. He was a foundational a part of ESPN’s hockey protection, and followers and teammates actually appreciated his entertaining supply and charismatic persona.”
The assertion added: “We ship our deepest condolences to his family members. He all the time saved it attention-grabbing and he will likely be missed.”
