Wayne Gretzky, TNT pay tribute to Barry Melrose to open NHL season

The 2026–27 NHL season got started this week with the larger hockey world still mourning the death of beloved former player, coach, and analyst Barry Melrose .

Melrose was the face of hockey at ESPN for nearly three decades, and the Worldwide Leader paid fitting tribute to him on the opening night of the season , with his silhouette donning one of the walls of the network's new Studio W.

On Wednesday, TNT's first night of hockey coverage for the season, the competing network also took a moment to remember Melrose and all of his contributions to the sport.

Wayne Gretzky, who played under Melrose during his time with the Los Angeles Kings, had some touching words to remember his former coach.

"When you look at his picture, that's how he really was in life. He was always smiling. It could be the worst game we ever played. I remember one night, I think we lost 12–2, I think we outshot them 60–15 in the old Cow Palace. Kelly Hrudey was in goal. And after the game I was standing there, I hadn't come back yet from my injury, and Barry just stood up in front of the guys and said, 'I don't know what to say to you guys. I thought you had a great game.' And he walked out."

It's an anecdote that's easy for any fan of Melrose's to imagine. As Gretzky put it, he simply loved the game of hockey.

"He's always positive. If you were a fourth line guy or a fifth or sixth defenseman, he loved just coaching everyone, and he was positive every single day. Never had a bad moment. Loved coming to the rink. Loved being around the players. Gosh, the game's going to miss him. There was a big stretch there were he was the big voice for hockey in the United States, and in Canada. He will be sorely missed because he was so positive. Everywhere he went people loved him."

It was a nice moment between what are ostensibly competing networks to come together and pay respect to one of the most important figures in the growth of the sport in America.