Who was Barry Melrose? All about ESPN analyst as he dies three years after Parkinson’s diagnosis

Barry Melrose, the former NHL defenseman who went on to become one of the most recognizable faces in hockey broadcasting, passed away on Wednesday. He was seventy years old. Melrose had retired from ESPN back in 2023, following a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. As per a report shared by The Hollywood Reporter, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed his death.

"From the flowing locks of his distinctive mullet to the flared lapels of his trademark long suit coats, Barry Melrose cut an unmistakable figure whenever you were fortunate enough to run into him at a rink or catch him on your television screen," Bettman shared.

As per a report shared by The Athletic, Melrose played three hundred NHL games across six seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. He also took the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final in his very first year as head coach. That being said, it was his nearly three decades as a studio analyst for ESPN that truly defined his legacy in the sport. With his loud suits and trademark mullet, Melrose became a fixture for countless American fans through the 1990s and 2000s, often alongside his longtime friend Steve Levy, helping bring hockey to a mainstream audience.

Barry Melrose opens up about retiring from ESPN following Parkinson's diagnosis:

Barry Melrose's cause of death has not been made available. What is known is that Melrose walked away from ESPN in October 2023, after publicly revealing a Parkinson's disease diagnosis.

"I've had over fifty extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world's greatest game, hockey. It's now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife, Cindy, and whatever comes next," he shared.

As per a report shared by the Los Angeles Times, the Kings fired Melrose in April 1995, near the end of his third season. Thirty minutes later, ESPN had signed him as a studio analyst for the upcoming NHL playoffs. He worked part-time the season after that before joining the network full-time for the 1996-97 campaign. Melrose had been candid years earlier about exactly the kind of analyst he wanted to be, telling the Los Angeles Times,

"When [people] watch me on TV, I want them to go, 'Geez, I'd like to go for a beer with Barry Melrose and talk hockey. He seems like he'd be very interesting.'"

Steve Levy leads tributes to Barry Melrose following the analyst's passing:

Barry Melrose and Steve Levy had reported together from every Stanley Cup Final from 1994 until 2022. As per a report shared by ESPN, when Levy announced on the eve of the 2023 series that Melrose would not be continuing that streak, it led many to wonder whether he was ill. Following Melrose's passing, Levy shared a statement.

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"For more than thirty years Barry was the unquestioned face/voice of hockey in the United States. He was a man of the people, a family man, a part of my family. Tonight I'll toast to the kid from Kelvington who made it big but never forgot his roots. Now he can drink all the Bud Lights, smoke all the cigars and play all the rounds of golf he wants to. Barry Melrose was the best of us," he shared.

Born Barry James Melrose in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, he was the third of four kids and was raised on a nearby farm. His father, James, built a rink on their property. Melrose started skating as soon as he could walk. When he was five years old, he took his first stick to the face and got a black eye. He later sold four pigs to buy his first pair of Tackaberry ice skates. His favorite NHL player growing up was Tim Horton, a defenseman.

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