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 the subsequent absorption of some of its teams 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 1987–88 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 Finals, 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 Melrose joined ESPN as a guest analyst in the spring of 1994 and 1995 when the Kings missed the playoffs and permanently in the fall of 1995 as a color commentator and studio analyst alongside host
John Buccigross and
John Saunders. He left ESPN in June 2008 to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was also the lead studio analyst on
NHL 2Night together with
Ray Ferraro along with host Buccigross. The trio also called select NHL games and the
Frozen Four championship games together.
NHL Network Melrose joined the
NHL Network as a contributor in September 2011. ==Personal life==