Barry Melrose

Barry Melrose
Barry Melrose pictured at the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals
Born (1956-07-15) July 15, 1956 (age 68)
Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Cincinnati Stingers
Winnipeg Jets
Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
NHL draft 36th overall, 1976
Montreal Canadiens
WHA draft 37th overall, 1976
Cincinnati Stingers
Playing career 1974–1987

Barry James Melrose (born July 15, 1956) is a Canadian–American retired broadcaster and former professional ice hockey player and head coach. Melrose played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) and National Hockey League (NHL). After retiring from playing, he became a head coach and is best known for being the coach of the Los Angeles Kings in their run to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals. Until 2023, he was a long-time commentator and hockey analyst for ESPN as well as a contributor for the NHL Network.[1]

Hockey career

Playing career

Melrose began his hockey career as a defenceman in the WCHL with the Kamloops Chiefs in 1974, where he stayed for two years. He started the 1976–77 season with the Springfield Indians of the AHL, before moving mid-season to the Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA, where he stayed until 1979.

Following the demise of the WHA and the subsequent absorption of some of its teams into the NHL, Melrose joined the Winnipeg Jets for the 1979–80 season.[2]

For the remainder of his playing career, Melrose split time between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings, as well as their assorted AHL affiliates. Melrose spent his final season playing with the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL during the 1986–87 season.

During his NHL playing career, he played 300 games, scoring 10 goals, with 23 assists and 728 penalty minutes. He also played in 7 playoff games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, assisting on 2 goals and receiving 38 penalty minutes.

Coaching career

Upon retirement, Melrose immediately began coaching. He coached the 1987–88 season with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, leading them to a 44–22–6 record and a Memorial Cup title.

He coached the next season with the Seattle Thunderbirds before jumping to the AHL and coaching the Adirondack Red Wings. He spent three years with the Red Wings, leading them to a Calder Cup win in the 1991–92 season.

Beginning with the 1992–93 season, Melrose coached the NHL's Los Angeles Kings,[3] leading them to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, which they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games. He continued coaching the Kings for two more seasons, finishing both years out of the playoffs and with losing records.[4] He then spent 13 years as a hockey analyst with ESPN.[5] (NHL Tonight/DCI Tonight) On June 4, 2008, Melrose stated on Pardon the Interruption that he missed coaching and would entertain any NHL coaching offers. He stated, "I miss not having a dog in the fight."

The Tampa Bay Lightning hired Melrose as their head coach in June 2008.[6] On October 21, 2008, Melrose recorded his first win as a head coach in over 13 years in a 3–2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers. On November 14, 2008, Melrose was fired by the Lightning with a 5–7–4 record.[7]

ESPN

Melrose joined ESPN as a guest analyst in the spring of 1994 and 1995 when the Kings missed the playoffs[8] and permanently in the fall of 1995 as a color commentator and studio analyst alongside host John Buccigross and John Saunders. He left ESPN in June 2008 to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning.[6] After his short stint with the Lightning ended, he returned to ESPN on January 1, 2009, in conjunction with the Winter Classic played between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.[9] He was also the lead studio analyst on NHL 2Night together with Ray Ferraro along with host Buccigross. The trio also called select NHL games and the Frozen Four championship games together.[10][11][5]

On October 10, 2023, John Buccigross, Melrose's longtime colleague at ESPN, announced on X that Melrose would be retiring from the network to spend more time with his family after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.[12][13][14][15]

NHL Network

Melrose joined the NHL Network as a contributor in September 2011.[16]

Personal life

Born in Kelvington, Saskatchewan to Norrie and James Melrose, he grew up on a farm outside the town. He is the cousin of former NHL players Wendel Clark and Joe Kocur and longtime minor league forward Kerry Clark. Melrose currently resides in Glens Falls, New York with his wife, Cindy, and the couple have two sons, Tyrell and Adrien. Melrose became an American citizen in March 1998.[1]

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1973–74 Weyburn Red Wings SJHL 50 2 19 21 162 — — — — —
1974–75 Kamloops Chiefs WCHL 70 6 18 24 95 6 1 1 2 21
1975–76 Kamloops Chiefs WCHL 72 12 49 61 112 12 4 6 10 14
1976–77 Cincinnati Stingers WHA 29 1 4 5 8 2 0 0 0 0
1976–77 Springfield Indians AHL 23 0 3 3 17 — — — — —
1977–78 Cincinnati Stingers WHA 69 2 9 11 113 — — — — —
1978–79 Cincinnati Stingers WHA 80 2 14 16 222 3 0 1 1 8
1979–80 Winnipeg Jets NHL 74 4 6 10 124 — — — — —
1980–81 Winnipeg Jets NHL 18 1 1 2 40 — — — — —
1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 57 2 5 7 166 3 0 1 1 15
1981–82 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 64 1 5 6 186 — — — — —
1982–83 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 52 2 5 7 68 4 0 1 1 23
1982–83 St. Catharines Saints AHL 25 1 10 11 106 — — — — —
1983–84 Detroit Red Wings NHL 21 0 1 1 74 — — — — —
1983–84 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 16 2 1 3 37 — — — — —
1984–85 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 72 3 13 16 226 — — — — —
1985–86 Detroit Red Wings NHL 14 0 0 0 70 — — — — —
1985–86 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 57 4 4 8 204 — — — — —
1986–87 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 55 4 9 13 170 11 1 2 3 107
WHA totals 178 5 27 32 343 5 0 1 1 10
AHL totals 248 14 40 54 760 11 1 2 3 107
NHL totals 300 10 23 33 728 7 0 2 2 38

Coaching record

Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L T OTL Pts Finish Result
LAK 1992–93 84 39 35 10 — 88 3rd in Smythe Lost in Stanley Cup Finals (MTL)
LAK 1993–94 84 27 45 12 — 66 5th in Pacific Missed playoffs
LAK 1994–95 41 13 21 7 — (33) (fired) —
TBL 2008–09 16 5 7 — 4 (14) (fired) —
Total 225 84 108 29 4 1 playoff appearance

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Barry Melrose". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  2. ^ Chat: Chat with Barry Melrose - SportsNation - ESPN
  3. ^ Dillman, Lisa (1992-06-25). "Kings Finally Select Coach, Take Melrose : Hockey: Team's front office will be shuffled, moving Vachon up and replacing him with Beverley". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  4. ^ Dillman, Lisa (1995-04-22). "Melrose Loses Place With Kings : Hockey: Raeder also ousted amid desperation as Vachon takes over in bid "to salvage the year."". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  5. ^ a b Matsumoto, Jon (1995-12-13). "Melrose Lands in a Comfortable Place : Television: After a tumultuous time as coach of the L.A. Kings, Barry Melrose is back at ESPN and ESPN2 for his first full season as an on-air sports personality". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  6. ^ a b "Lightning hire Melrose as new head coach". ESPN. June 23, 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  7. ^ "Tocchet to take over as interim coach after Melrose gets fired". ESPN. November 15, 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  8. ^ Nidetz, Steve (1994-04-18). "LITTLE WONDER PANG A TOP HOCKEY ANALYST". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  9. ^ "Melrose's place: Back on ESPN hockey coverage". ESPN.com. 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  10. ^ Robenhymer, Julie (2016-04-30). "Ties After Three Periods Send the Fans to Twitter". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  11. ^ McKay, Julie (2023-03-22). "The Puck Drops on NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Post-Season Play Across ESPN Platforms". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  12. ^ Axson, Scooby. "ESPN NHL analyst Barry Melrose has Parkinson's disease, retiring from network". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  13. ^ "ESPN's Melrose has Parkinson's disease, retiring". ESPN.com. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  14. ^ "Barry Melrose retiring as ESPN's longtime hockey analyst after Parkinson's disease diagnosis". AP News. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  15. ^ Hill, Glynn A. (2023-10-10). "Barry Melrose, ESPN hockey analyst, retires after Parkinson's diagnosis". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  16. ^ Hughes, Travis (September 26, 2011). "Barry Melrose Joins NHL Network But Isn't Leaving ESPN". SB Nation. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Head coach of the Los Angeles Kings
1992–1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning
2008 		Succeeded by