Arrr, ESPN's hockey analyst, Barry Melrose, 67, be hangin' up his boots after bein' struck with Parkinson's.
2023-10-10
Arr, ye scurvy dogs! ESPN be blabberin' that the ol' sea dog, Barry Melrose, aye, 67 he be, shall hang up his analyst hat. The poor matey has been cursed with Parkinson's disease! A sad tale, indeed.
The 2023-24 NHL season will begin without Barry Melrose, one of the sport's most prominent analysts, dissecting the game. Melrose, who has been with ESPN since 1996, announced his retirement on the day of the NHL season's start, revealing that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In a statement, the 67-year-old expressed his gratitude for his hockey career and thanked ESPN for almost 30 years of being his home. Melrose, who played in six NHL seasons for three different teams before joining broadcasting, became a prominent head coach after his playing days. He coached the Los Angeles Kings to a Stanley Cup Final in 1993 and briefly returned to the bench in 2008 to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, he was fired after just 16 games. Despite this setback, Melrose quickly returned to the studio and was back at ESPN in time for the 2009 Winter Classic. Wayne Gretzky, whom Melrose coached, paid tribute to him in a video, emphasizing his impact on the sport and the hockey community. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also expressed their well wishes for Melrose and his family. Melrose's retirement marks the end of an era for hockey on ESPN, as he leaves behind a lasting legacy both on and off the ice.