The sports world suffered a tremendous loss on Wednesday (September 9). Former NHL star and longtime ESPN analyst Barry Melrose passed away. He was 70 years old.
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Barry Melrose Dead at 70
Melrose played 300 career NHL games over six seasons for the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings. He also had a solid run as an NHL coach. His biggest accomplishment was leading Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final in his rookie coaching season.
But for most sports fans, Melrose was known as one of the most prominent voices in modern sports media. Melrose joined ESPN in 1996. And immediately made an impact. Known as the guy with the cool seersucker suits and lingo that was as slick as his hair. He served as a hockey analyst for 17 years. But he was forced to retire from the network in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. A progressive brain disorder that affects movement, balance, and other body functions as nerve cells in the brain slowly break down and die.
Following his passing, the sports network paid tribute to Melrose. They called him one of the most "trusted voices in hockey" during his tenure.
"For decades, Barry Melrose was one of the most distinctive and trusted voices in hockey,"
