Barry Melrose

Barry James Melrose (born July 15, 1956) is a Canadian–American broadcaster and former professional ice hockey player and head coach. Melrose played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) and National Hockey League (NHL). After retiring from playing, he became a head coach and is best known for being the coach of the Los Angeles Kings in their run to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final. He is a long-time commentator and hockey analyst for ESPN and contributor for the NHL Network.Barry Melrose « ESPN MediaZone ESPN MediaZone
==Hockey career==
===Playing career===
Melrose began his hockey career as a defenceman in the WCHL with the Kamloops Chiefs in 1974, where he stayed for two years. He started the 1976–77 season with the Springfield Indians of the AHL, before moving mid-season to the Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA, where he stayed until 1979.
Following the demise of the WHA and its subsequent absorption into the NHL, Melrose joined the Winnipeg Jets for the 1979–80 season.Chat: Chat with Barry Melrose - SportsNation - ESPN
For the remainder of his playing career, Melrose split time between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings, as well as their assorted AHL affiliates. Melrose spent his final season playing with the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL during the 1986–87 season.
During his NHL playing career, he played 300 games, scoring 10 goals, with 23 assists and 728 penalty minutes. He also played in 7 playoff games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, assisting on 2 goals and receiving 38 penalty minutes.
===Coaching career===
Upon retirement, Melrose immediately began coaching. He coached the 1987–88 season with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, leading them to a 44–22–6 record and a Memorial Cup title.
He coached the next season with the Seattle Thunderbirds before jumping to the AHL and coaching the Adirondack Red Wings. He spent three years with the Red Wings, leading them to a Calder Cup win in the 1991–92 season.
Beginning with the 1992–93 season, Melrose coached the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, leading them to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final, which they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games. He continued coaching the Kings for two more seasons, finishing both years out of the playoffs and with losing records. He then spent 13 years as a hockey analyst with ESPN. (NHL Tonight/DCI Tonight) On June 4, 2008 Melrose stated on Pardon the Interruption that he missed coaching and would entertain any NHL coaching offers. He stated, "I miss not having a dog in the fight."
The Tampa Bay Lightning hired Melrose as their head coach in June 2008. On October 21, 2008, Melrose recorded his first win as a head coach in over 13 years in a 3–2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers. On November 14, 2008, Melrose was fired by the Lightning with a 5–7–4 record.
===ESPN/ABC===
Melrose joined ESPN in 1996 as a studio analyst. In 1999–2000, he joined ABC as a color commentator before moving to studio analyst full-time in 2003. He left ESPN in June 2008 to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning. After his short stint with the Lightning ended, he returned to ESPN on January 1, 2009 in conjunction with the Winter Classic played between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.
===NHL Network===
Melrose joined the NHL Network as a contributor in September 2011.
==Personal life==
Born in Kelvington, Saskatchewan to Norrie and James Melrose, he grew up on a farm outside the town. He is the cousin of former NHL players Wendel Clark and Joe Kocur and longtime minor league forward Kerry Clark. Melrose currently resides in Glens Falls, New York with his wife, Cindy, and the couple have two sons, Tyrell and Adrien. Melrose became an American citizen in March 1998.
He has had several minor television and movie roles. Melrose guest starred in a season 5 episode of Spin City, titled "Hey Judith". He appeared in the second Slapshot movie, Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice, as well as the movie Mystery, Alaska with Russell Crowe. During his tenure as the Kings head coach, Melrose was featured in a series of Tony Robbins infomercials.
==Career statistics==
  	  	  	 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1973–74 	Weyburn Red Wings 	SJHL 	 	50 	2 	19 	21 	162 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1974–75 	Kamloops Chiefs 	WCHL 	 	70 	6 	18 	24 	95 	 	6 	1 	1 	2 	21
1975–76 	Kamloops Chiefs 	WCHL 	 	72 	12 	49 	61 	112 	 	12 	4 	6 	10 	14
1976–77 	Cincinnati Stingers 	WHA 	 	29 	1 	4 	5 	8 	 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
1976–77 	Springfield Indians 	AHL 	 	23 	0 	3 	3 	17 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1977–78 	Cincinnati Stingers 	WHA 	 	69 	2 	9 	11 	113 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1978–79 	Cincinnati Stingers 	WHA 	 	80 	2 	14 	16 	222 	 	3 	0 	1 	1 	8
1979–80 	Winnipeg Jets 	NHL 	 	74 	4 	6 	10 	124 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1980–81 	Winnipeg Jets 	NHL 	 	18 	1 	1 	2 	40 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1980–81 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	57 	2 	5 	7 	166 	 	3 	0 	1 	1 	15
1981–82 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	64 	1 	5 	6 	186 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1982–83 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	52 	2 	5 	7 	68 	 	4 	0 	1 	1 	23
1982–83 	St. Catharines Saints	AHL 	 	25 	1 	10 	11 	106 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1983–84 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	21 	0 	1 	1 	74 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1983–84 	Adirondack Red Wings 	AHL 	 	16 	2 	1 	3 	37 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1984–85 	Adirondack Red Wings 	AHL 	 	72 	3 	13 	16 	226 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1985–86 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	14 	0 	0 	0 	70 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1985–86 	Adirondack Red Wings 	AHL 	 	57 	4 	4 	8 	204 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1986–87 	Adirondack Red Wings 	AHL 	 	55 	4 	9 	13 	170 	 	11 	1 	2 	3 	107
WHA totals	WHA totals 	WHA totals	 	178 	5 	27 	32 	343 	 	5 	0 	1 	1 	10
AHL totals	AHL totals 	AHL totals	 	248 	14 	40 	54 	760 	 	11 	1 	2 	3 	107
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	300 	10 	23 	33 	728 	 	7 	0 	2 	2 	38
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Coaching record==
Team 	Year 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Postseason
Team 	Year 	G 	W 	L 	T 	OTL 	Pts 	Finish 	Result
LAK 	1992–93	84 	39 	35 	10 	— 	88 	3rd in Smythe 	Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
LAK 	1993–94	84 	27 	45 	12 	— 	66 	5th in Pacific	Missed playoffs
LAK 	1994–95	41 	13 	21 	7 	— 	(33) 	(fired) 	—
TBL 	2008–09	16 	5 	7 	— 	4 	(14) 	(fired) 	—
Total	Total 	225 	84 	108 	29 	4 	 	 	1 playoff appearance
==See also==
* Notable families in the NHL
* Playoff mullet
==References==
==External links==
* 
* Pens Universe: 5 Questions with Barry Melrose
Category:1956 births
Category:Living people
Category:Adirondack Red Wings coaches
Category:Adirondack Red Wings players
Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen
Category:Canadian people of Scottish descent
Category:Canadian sports announcers
Category:Cincinnati Stingers draft picks
Category:Cincinnati Stingers players
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Ice hockey people from Saskatchewan
Category:Kamloops Chiefs players
Category:Los Angeles Kings coaches
Category:Medicine Hat Tigers coaches
Category:Montreal Canadiens draft picks
Category:National Hockey League broadcasters
Category:College hockey announcers in the United States
Category:Seattle Thunderbirds coaches
Category:Springfield Indians players
Category:Tampa Bay Lightning coaches
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:Weyburn Red Wings players
Category:Winnipeg Jets (1979–1996) players
Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches