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Barry Melrose diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, to step away from ESPN

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•10/10/23•

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Kim Klement | USA TODAY Sports

On Tuesday, ESPN’s John Buccigross announced his longtime partner and fellow analyst Barry Melrose will be stepping away from the studio this year.

“Barry Melrose has Parkinson’s disease and is stepping away from our ESPN family to spend more time with his,” Buccigross wrote on Twitter. “I’ve worked with Barry at ESPN for over a quarter century. Cold beers and hearty laughs in smokey cigar bars. A razor sharp wit, he was always early & looked like a million bucks. I love him. I’ll miss him.”

Melrose joined ESPN in 1996 as a commentator and NHL analyst. In 2011, he also began working for the NHL Network. Melrose played professional hockey from 1974-87. During his 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).

Before joining ESPN, the 67-year-old analyst was the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings from 1992 to April 1995. Melrose also took a break from ESPN in 2008 to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning. Nonetheless, after just 16 games, the organization fired Melrose. He returned to ESPN.

Along with his heartwarming message to Melrose, Buccigross posted a tribute video for his friend.

The wonderful tribute was voiced by a former player of Melrose’s when he coached the Los Angeles Kings: Wayne Gretzky. In the video, Gretzky remembers Melrose’s massive impact on the game of hockey and his personal career.

“He’s bigger than any team. For decades, he’s been suiting up, and I mean suiting up for the game, for the sport, for hockey,” Gretzky said. “Barry was hired to be our coach in 1992 and he was just 35. He’d never coached a game in the NHL but as soon as he took over, all we did was start winning.

“On TV, Barry was, well, from day one, Barry — no tricks. Instead, Barry was all treats. And above all, a man who loved his country. Without pandering, without sugarcoating, in his flamboyant suits, with his big cigars, Barry’s brought the game to life for millions of viewers.

“Hockey is more than a game. It’s a community, a finely-tuned orchestra, and Barry was our conductor,” Gretzky said. “Barry has given so much to the game and now he needs our support. And all of us in hockey are here for him.”