Barry Melrose Dead at 70: The Mullet, the Magic, and the Man Who Taught America Hockey
Barry Melrose didn't just cover hockey. He WAS hockey.
The legendary coach, player, and larger-than-life ESPN analyst died Wednesday at age 70, his wife Cindy told ESPN's Steve Levy. And if you ever saw that slicked-back hair, that unmistakable goatee, or heard that booming voice break down a neutral zone trap, you know the sport just lost one of its most unforgettable characters.
From Small-Town Saskatchewan to the Bright Lights of LA
Melrose was a small-town kid from Kelvington, Saskatchewan, who grinded his way through 335 NHL games as a defenseman with the Jets, Maple Leafs, and Red Wings — racking up 728 penalty minutes and 33 points along the way. But his real legend started behind the bench.
After winning the Memorial Cup with Medicine Hat in 1987 and a Calder Cup with Adirondack in 1991, Melrose got the call that would change everything: coaching Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings in 1992.
All he did in year one was take the Kings to the Stanley Cup Final, falling to Montreal in five. That run turned hockey into a thing in LA, and Melrose into a household name.
The ESPN Era: 25 Years of Pure Personality
Melrose joined ESPN in 1996 and became the network's hockey heartbeat. Flashy suits, bold takes, and that priceless mullet — he made the game fun for millions. He worked alongside Steve Levy and John Buccigross for decades, covering Stanley Cup Finals, All-Star Games, and everything in between.
Buccigross was crushed Wednesday night, writing: “Barry was my best friend at ESPN. A big brother figure of rock solid values. I am shook to my core. The rink was Barry's home.”
Even The Great One paid ultimate respect when Melrose retired in 2023 after his Parkinson's diagnosis: “Hockey is more than a game, it's a community — a finely tuned orchestra — and Barry was our conductor.”
More Than a Coach, More Than a Broadcaster
Melrose's coaching record was 84-108-29, and he famously left the booth in 2008 for a 16-game stint behind the Tampa Bay Lightning bench. But his real impact was in the hearts of the players he led.
Hall of Famer Rob Blake said: “He was just a terrific person to be in charge of our team. A real big personality and he was a pleasure.” Tony Granato added: “There was no phoniness to him. He just was himself.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman put it perfectly: “From the flowing locks of his distinctive mullet to the flared lapels of his trademark long suit coats, Barry Melrose cut an unmistakable figure... He never failed to boost your love of the game of hockey.”
Melrose is survived by his wife Cindy and sons Tyrell and Adrien. The rink is quieter today. But that voice? That voice lives forever.