Barry Melrose steps away from ESPN after Parkinson’s diagnosis

Longtime ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose is retiring from the network to focus on his health.

ESPN’s John Buccigross shared the news on Tuesday that Melrose has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The 67-year-old has decided to step away from his job with ESPN to focus on his health and family. Buccigross shared a tribute video to his longtime co-worker.

NEWS:
Barry Melrose has Parkinson's disease and is stepping away from our ESPN family to spend more time with his. I've worked with Barry at ESPN for over a quarter century. Cold beers and hearty laughs in smokey cigar bars. A razor sharp wit, he was always early & looked like a… pic.twitter.com/gjjSAEuG2s

— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) October 10, 2023

“Barry Melrose has Parkinson’s disease and is stepping away from our ESPN family to spend more time with his. I’ve worked with Barry at ESPN for over a quarter century. 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,” Buccigross wrote.

Melrose began calling games for ESPN in 1996. He later transitioned to a studio analyst role. Melrose left ESPN for a brief period in 2008 to become the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, but he returned to the network several months later.

In addition to his regular network appearances, Melrose had more recently had a role on the ESPN+ show “In the Crease.”