Barry Melrose Retires From ESPN
The 2023-24 NHL Season is about to begin, but it’s officially the end of an era in the NHL. ESPN owns the TV rights for the NHL, but you won’t be seeing Barry Melrose in studio this year. It unfortunately comes with sour news too. Not only is Melrose retiring from ESPN but he is also battling Parkinson’s disease.
John Buccigross was the first to make light of the news. It was mostly Buccigross paying respect to his former colleague.
“I’ve worked with Barry at ESPN for over a quarter century,” Buccigross said. “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.”
ESPN.com also put out a post where Melrose released a statement on the news.
“I’ve had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world’s greatest game, hockey. It’s now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife Cindy, and whatever comes next,” Melrose, 67, said in a statement.
“I’m beyond grateful for my hockey career, and to have called ESPN home for almost 30 years. Thanks for the incredible memories and I’ll now be cheering for you from the stands.”
It’s the end of an era. Melrose will be missed and we wish him the best of luck during his recovery process. Hockey is back but it won’t ever quite be the same.
Melrose, 67, had an 84-108-29 record as a head coach while coaching Wayne Gretzky for a vast majority of his career.
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