What happened to Barry Melrose? What we know on NHL, ESPN legend

Barry Melrose, the legendary NHL player, coach and ESPN commentator, has died at 70, his wife, Cindy, confirmed to ESPN’s Steve Levy on Wednesday.

Melrose led the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final as a coach and played for the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings in his NHL career.

He coached the Kings from 1992-1995 and briefly coached the Tampa Bay Lightning for 16 games in 2008.

However, Melrose was perhaps best known for his role as one of ESPN’s flagship NHL commentators. He retired from the network in 2023 after a Parkinson’s diagnosis, closing out a television career that started in 1996.

What incredibly sad news for the hockey legend.

The network has.

“For decades, Barry Melrose was one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey,” ESPN said in its statement. “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.”

This article originally appeared on For The Win: What happened to Barry Melrose? What we know on NHL, ESPN legend