Legendary hockey coach and fan-favorite ESPN analyst dead at 70 after battle with Parkinson’s disease

Barry Melrose, a former NHL player and coach who leveraged his passionate personality and extravagant style into a decades-long career in the media, has died at the age of 70, according to ESPN.

Melrose had been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2023 before his death on Wednesday, which was confirmed by his wife, Cindy, to his long-time friend and on-air partner Steve Levy.

The Saskatchewan native spent seven seasons playing in the NHL before coaching parts of four seasons and making a run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Melrose became known for his wit, his glamorous suits and his trademark slicked-back mullet. He was one of the faces of ESPN’s hockey coverage ever since joining the network in 1996. The revelation of his Parkinson’s battle led to his retirement from the airwaves.

Melrose coached Wayne Gretzky to his final Stanley Cup Finals appearance of his career while playing for the Los Angeles Kings. After his retirement, Gretzky said of Melrose: ‘He’s bigger than any team. For decades, he’s been suiting up – and I mean suiting up – for the game, for the sport, for hockey.’

Gretzky added, ‘Hockey is more than a game. It’s a community – a finely tuned orchestra – and Barry was our conductor.’

MORE TO FOLLOW.