Barry Melrose

Barry Melrose
Barry Melrose pictured at the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals
Born	July 15, 1956 (1956-07-15) Kelvington, SK, CAN
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Defense
Shot	Left
Played for	Cincinnati Stingers Winnipeg Jets Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings
Playing career	1974–1987

Barry James Melrose (born July 15, 1956) is a former player and head coach in the National Hockey League, as well as a current commentator and hockey analyst for ESPN.

Biography

Playing career

Melrose began his hockey career as a defenseman 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.

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 1987–1988 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 1991–1992 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.

Return to ESPN

Melrose returned to ESPN television on January 1, 2009 in conjunction with the Winter Classic that same day between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.

Personal life

Born in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Melrose currently resides in Glens Falls, New York with his wife Cindy and together they have two grown sons, Tyrell and Adrien. He is the cousin of former NHL players Wendel Clark and Joe Kocur.

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. Melrose was also featured in a series of Tony Robbins infomercials.

Coaching record

Team	Year	Regular season							Post season
		G	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	Finish	Result
LA	1992–93	84	39	35	10	-	88	3rd in Smythe	Lost in Cup Final
LA	1993–94	84	27	45	12	-	66	5th in Pacific	Missed Playoffs
LA	1994–95	41	13	21	7	-	(33)	4th in Pacific	(fired)
TB	2008–09	16	5	7	-	4	(14)	5th in Southeast	(fired)
Total		225	84	108	29	4

See also

• Notable families in the NHL
• Playoff mullet

External links

• Barry Melrose's career stats at Eliteprospects.com
• Barry Melrose's ESPN Bio
• Barry Melrose's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Pens Universe: 5 Questions with Barry Melrose

Sporting positions
Preceded by Tom Webster	Head coach of the Los Angeles Kings 1992-95	Succeeded by Rogatien Vachon
Preceded by John Tortorella	Head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning 2008	Succeeded by Rick Tocchet