Former NHL player, coach and longtime ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose has died at the age of 70.
Melrose died Wednesday, his wife, Cindy, confirmed to ESPN.
The hockey legend had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2023 and stepped away from ESPN that same year, ending a nearly three-decade run at the network.
For generations of hockey fans, Melrose was one of the most recognizable faces in the sport.
With his slicked-back hair, goatee and unmistakable personality, he became a fixture on ESPN’s NHL coverage and regularly appeared during the league’s biggest games and events.
“For decades, Barry Melrose was one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey,” ESPN said in a statement.
The network praised his knowledge of the game, candid style and passion, calling him a foundational part of its hockey coverage.
Before becoming a television star, Melrose built a long career on the ice.
The Saskatchewan native played seven NHL seasons as a defenseman with the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.
Before that, he spent three seasons with the Cincinnati Stingers in the WHA.
In 300 NHL games, Melrose recorded 10 goals and 33 points while piling up 728 penalty minutes, earning a reputation as a tough, physical player.
After retiring as a player, Melrose moved into coaching.
He spent three seasons behind the bench for the Los Angeles Kings and led the team, with Wayne Gretzky, to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993.
Years later, Melrose returned to coaching for a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning, lasting 16 games.
He finished his NHL coaching career with an 84-108-29 record.
Melrose eventually became best known for his work at ESPN, where he spent 27 years and helped introduce countless fans to the game with his colorful commentary and larger-than-life style.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman remembered Melrose as a true original.
Bettman said Melrose was instantly recognizable, from his famous mullet to his long suit coats, and said his enthusiasm had a way of making people love hockey even more.
“We mourn the passing of a hockey original,” Bettman said.
Tributes also poured in from Melrose’s former ESPN colleagues and others across the hockey world.
Melrose is survived by his wife, Cindy, and their sons, Tyrell and Adrien.