Barry Melrose
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]
| Barry Melrose | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Melrose pictured at the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals | |||
| Born | July 15, 1956 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 | ||
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 in 1996 as a commentator and NHL analyst. 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.[1]
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.[8][9][10][11][12]
NHL Network
Melrose joined the NHL Network as a contributor in September 2011.[13]
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]
He has had several minor television and movie roles. Melrose guest starred in a season 5 episode of Spin City, titled "Hey Judith". He appeared in the second Slapshot movie, Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice, as well as the movie Mystery, Alaska with Russell Crowe. During his tenure as the Kings head coach, Melrose was featured in a series of Tony Robbins infomercials.
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 |
| 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
- ^ a b c "Barry Melrose". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ Chat: Chat with Barry Melrose - SportsNation - ESPN
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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 2023-10-10.
- ^ a b "Lightning hire Melrose as new head coach". ESPN. June 23, 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
- ^ "Tocchet to take over as interim coach after Melrose gets fired". ESPN. November 15, 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
- ^ https://twitter.com/Buccigross/status/1711810339212271880
- ^ Axson, Scooby. "ESPN NHL analyst Barry Melrose has Parkinson's disease, retiring from network". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ "ESPN's Melrose has Parkinson's disease, retiring". ESPN.com. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ "Barry Melrose retiring as ESPN's longtime hockey analyst after Parkinson's disease diagnosis". AP News. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hughes, Travis (September 26, 2011). "Barry Melrose Joins NHL Network But Isn't Leaving ESPN". SB Nation. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- Pens Universe: 5 Questions with Barry Melrose