ESPN with a heartbreaking announcement concerning Barry Melrose

This just in, ESPN's John Buccigross has announced via social media that longtime ESPN hockey broadcaster Barry Melrose has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. As such, Melrose will be stepping away from the broadcast booth to spend more time with his family.

From Buccigross:

Melrose, of course, has formerly a head coach in the NHL before turning to the broadcast booth way back in the mid-1990s. He had brief success with the Wayne Gretzky led Los Angeles Kings from 1993 until 1996 and then again had a short stint back in the NHL as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008. Melrose infamously scratched 1st overall pick Steven Stamkos during his rookie season and ended up lasting just 16 games in Tampa before being replaced by Rick Tocchet.

Never one to shy away from a camera or a microphone, Melrose made a second career for himself in hockey at ESPN. His loud opinion, loud attire and his trademark mullet hair-cut earned him a bit of a reputation as a 'Don Cherry Lite' in his heyday. Melrose was always fired up and had an opinion on anything and everything in the hockey world.

I'll be the first to admit that his analysis wasn't always my cup of tea and that I much preferred other ESPN and NHL Network broadcasters, but I wouldn't wish Parkinson's Disease on even my worst enemy. Here's hoping that Melrose is able to fully enjoy whatever time he has left with his family before this disease strips him of his way of life. Thoughts and prayers going out to the entire Melrose family.