Hockey Legend Barry Melrose Dies at 70 After Parkinson’s Battle

Barry Melrose, the former NHL coach and longtime ESPN hockey analyst, has died at the age of 70.

Melrose passed away on September 9, 2026, with ESPN confirming the news after his wife, Cindy, notified the network.

Melrose was best known to hockey fans for his time behind the bench of the Los Angeles Kings, where he coached a team led by superstar Wayne Gretzky to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final.

But his influence on hockey extended far beyond coaching.

In 1996, Melrose joined ESPN and quickly became one of the network’s most recognizable hockey voices. Known for his distinctive style, strong opinions and deep understanding of the game, he spent nearly three decades helping fans understand and appreciate hockey from the analyst’s desk.

Melrose remained a prominent figure at ESPN until 2023, when he stepped away from the network after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

His career bridged two very different sides of professional hockey — the intensity of coaching at the highest level and the ability to explain the sport to millions of viewers.

For generations of fans, Melrose was more than a coach or television analyst. He became a familiar and trusted presence in hockey, particularly during his long tenure at ESPN.

His death marks the loss of a distinctive voice who spent decades around the sport he loved.

Source: USA Today