Barry Melrose, the former NHL defenceman who coached the Los Angeles Kings to their first Stanley Cup final and later became one of ESPN's most colourful hockey analysts, has died at the age of 70. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed his death, paying tribute to Melrose's distinctive style and his ability to deepen fans' love of the game. No cause of death has been given, though Melrose revealed in October 2023 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and was retiring from broadcasting to focus on his health.

Known for his mullet and flamboyant suits, Melrose guided the Wayne Gretzky-led Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup final in his first season as an NHL head coach, before being sacked in 1995 and hired by ESPN within half an hour. He spent nearly three decades as a full-time analyst for the network, briefly leaving in 2008 for an unsuccessful stint coaching the Tampa Bay Lightning before returning to ESPN in 2009. Born in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, in 1956, he played 300 NHL games for the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings before moving into coaching, and later teamed with Steve Levy to cover every Stanley Cup final from 1994 to 2022.