Barry Melrose

NHL Studio Analyst

Barry Melrose is a studio analyst for NHL telecasts on ESPN and ESPN2. During the Stanley Cup Finals, he provides pre-game, post-game and intermission analysis from the game site. He works in the booth during the YoungStars Game and SuperSkills competition during NHL All-Star Weekend. Melrose appears regularly on ESPN2’s NHL 2Night, the network’s NHL news and highlights program. He also provides reports for SportsCenter, appears on ESPN Radio and is a regular contributor to ESPN The Magazine.

From 1996 to 2002, Melrose also called regular-season and playoff games for ESPN and ABC Sports (2000-02). From 2003 to 2004, he provided studio analysis for ABC Sports’ NHL telecasts.

Melrose joined the network full-time in October 1996. He had previously worked as a studio analyst for ESPN’s Emmy Award-winning 1994 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and for ESPN and ESPN2 during the 1995 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Melrose was the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings from 1992 to April 1995. In his debut season, his team advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history.

Melrose began his coaching career in 1987 when he led the Medicine Hat Tigers to the WHL’s Memorial Cup Title. He also coached the Seattle Thunderbirds for the 1988-89 season and the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League for three seasons (1989-92). Melrose guided the Red Wings to the Calder Cup championship in 1991. He also served as the team’s General Manager during his final two seasons.

During his 11 years as a player, Melrose played 335 career games as a defenseman in the NHL with Winnipeg, Toronto and Detroit (1979-86). He also played three seasons with Cincinnati in the WHA (1976-79).

In 1999, Melrose played himself in the movie Mystery, Alaska, a story about a small town hockey team’s big game against the New York Rangers. In 2001, he was a guest on an episode of ABC’s comedy Spin City, in which he also played himself. In January 2004, Melrose and ESPN commentator Steve Levy became part-owners of the Adirondack Frostbite of the United Hockey League.

In March 1998, the native of Canada was sworn in as a U.S. citizen. Born July 15, 1956, Melrose is married with two children.

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