Barry Melrose, the mullet-wearing hockey analyst who spent 27 years explaining the game to ESPN viewers, died Wednesday at age 70. His wife, Cindy, confirmed the death to the network, citing complications from Parkinson’s disease, a diagnosis that forced him off the air in 2023.
Melrose built his reputation in NHL rinks before he built it in a television studio. A defenseman from Kelvington, Saskatchewan, he played 335 NHL games across 11 professional seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. He later coached the Wayne Gretzky-led Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final in his first season behind the bench, a run that ended in five games against Montreal. He also guided the Medicine Hat Tigers to a Memorial Cup title, led Adirondack to a Calder Cup championship, and briefly left ESPN in 2008 to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning for 16 games.
ESPN hired him within 30 minutes of the Kings firing him in April 1995, first as a playoff studio analyst, then full-time starting with the 1996-97 season. His flared suits, slicked-back hair and trademark mullet made him instantly recognizable, and his candor set him apart from more cautious broadcasters. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Melrose cut an unmistakable figure at any rink and never failed to deepen a fan’s love of the sport.
Gretzky, who played for Melrose in Los Angeles, called him the conductor of hockey’s community when Melrose stepped away from broadcasting three years ago. ESPN colleague John Buccigross described him as a mentor with rock-solid values, and said news of the death reached ESPN staffers Wednesday at a rink in Las Vegas, where they were preparing for the coming season.
Melrose is survived by Cindy and their two sons, Tyrell and Adrien.
