NHL Season Opens with Tribute to Barry Melrose

The National Hockey League returned to ESPN for the 2023-24 season, but the broadcast was marked by a somber mood following the recent passing of legendary ESPN analyst Barry Melrose. He was 70 years old.

A Legacy in Hockey Broadcasting

Melrose, a former NHL player and coach, was a prominent figure in hockey broadcasting, particularly during the 1990s after leading the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup Final. He rejoined ESPN in 2009 after a stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning and retired in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Tributes from Broadcasters

During Tuesday’s season opener between the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes, ESPN commentators Bob Wischusen and Erik Johnson honored Melrose’s career. Wischusen stated, "Our collective hockey hearts at ESPN were broken on September 9th when Barry Melrose passed away at the age of 70. He was one of a kind and he will be missed forever." Johnson, a former Stanley Cup champion, shared, "As much as I wanted to be a hockey player as a kid I wanted to be a broadcaster too and I idolized Barry Melrose. I remember being so nervous meeting him for the first time when I was 18 years old. Just a total titan, a total legend and we'll miss him big time.”