Los Angeles Kings president Luc Robitaille, who played for Melrose when he coached the Kings from 1992-95, said in a social media post that Melrose was “an outstanding leader who has served us well He brings an incredible personality to the hockey club and organization. His laugh is second to none.”
According to the National Institute on Aging, Parkinson’s disease is a brain disease that causes involuntary or uncontrollable movements such as tremors, stiffness, and difficulties with balance and coordination.
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, approximately one million people in the United States have Parkinson’s disease. According to the World Health Organization, more than 8.5 million people worldwide suffer from this disease.
Actors Michael J. Fox and Alan Alda, singers Neil Diamond and Linda Ronstadt and the late boxer Muhammad Ali are among the celebrities who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Melrose joined in 1996 as a hockey analyst after coaching the Kings. In 1993, with a star cast in Wayne Gretzky, Melrose led Los Angeles to its first Stanley Cup Finals, losing in five games to the Montreal Canadiens .
Melrose achieved a record of 79 wins, 101 draws, 29 losses and 0 in the regular season in Los Angeles and a record of 13 wins, 11 losses and 0 losses in the Stanley Cup playoffs. In 2008, he coached the Tampa Bay Lightning for 16 games.
Melrose was a second-round pick (36th overall) by the Canucks in the 1976 NHL Draft and played defenseman for the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings from 1979-86. He had 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) in 300 regular season games and 2 assists in 7 playoff games.
In addition to hockey and broadcasting, Melrose also dabbled in acting. In 1999, he played himself in the hockey film “Alaska” and in 2001 he guest-starred in the ABC comedy series “Spin City” starring Fox.
