ESPN hockey analyst Melrose retiring

Former NHL player and coach Barry Melrose is stepping away from his career as one of hockey's most recognized analysts after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, ESPN announced on Tuesday.

The news of Melrose's illness and retirement was made on ESPN's SportsCenter on the same day the NHL 2023-24 season opened.

“I've had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world's greatest game, hockey. It's now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife Cindy, and whatever comes next,” Melrose said in a statement. “I'm beyond grateful for my hockey career, and to have called ESPN home for almost 30 years. Thanks for the incredible memories, and I'll now be cheering for you from the stands.”

The 67-year-old Melrose's journeyman playing career in the WHA and NHL as a hard-nosed defenseman led to a brief coaching career — which included a Stanley Cup Final appearance with the Kings — before he became one of the game's top broadcasters. Melrose had a relatable everyman's broadcasting style, bringing a sense of humor to his insights, and was easily recognized by his goatee and slicked-backed hair.

He broke into pro hockey with the Cincinnati Stingers of the now-defunct World Hockey Association in 1976. He played in the NHL with Winnipeg, Toronto and Detroit, where he closed his career following the 1985-86 season.

Melrose turned to coaching and led the Adirondack Red Wings to win the American Hockey League Calder Cup in 1992.

The following year, Melrose was hired by the Kings, where he brought a sense of colorful flare and instant success to Los Angeles. In his rookie season, he coached a Kings team that featured Wayne Gretzky to make a memorable playoff run. They reached the Final before losing to Montreal in five games.

Melrose finished with a record of 79-101 and 29 ties over two-plus seasons in L.A. before being fired midway through the 199495 season.

He was hired by ESPN in 1996 and left broadcasting for what became a brief stint coaching the Tampa Bay Lightning in Steven Stamkos' rookie season of 2008-09. Melrose was fired 16 games into the season following a 5-7-4 start and returned to broadcasting. and Brandon Powell will have their roles elevated, and tight end T.J. Hockenson will be even more vital on third downs.

Addison has 19 catches for 249 yards and three TDs in his first five games.

The Vikings could hardly have had a worse setback after losing four of their first five games. Their entire offense is built around Jefferson, who has 36 catches for 571 yards and three touchdowns and never has missed a game in his career until now.

• The Arizona Cardinals placed leading rusher James Conner on injured reserve following a knee injury in Sunday's loss to the Bengals.

The Cardinals (1-4) already are missing franchise quarterback Kyler Murray and two-time AllPro safety Budda Baker because of injuries. Conner currently ranks eighth in the NFL with 364 yards rushing and is averaging 5.4 yards per carry.

His injury likely means more time for undrafted rookie free agant Emari Demercado, who ran for an 11-yard TD in the second half. It was first NFL touchdown for Demercado, who previously played at Downey High, Saddleback College and TCU.

at Minnesota

National League

Atlanta Dodgers

NHL

Favorite

Colorado at Carolina at Toronto at Boston Edmonton at Calgary

PRESEASON

Houston

at Philad at Arizona

Underdog

at Kings Ottawa Montreal Chicago at Vancouver

Winnipeg

Tuesday's results

Clippers 103, Utah 98

Real Madrid 127, Dallas 123 Washington 145, Cairns Taipans 82 Miami 113, Charlotte 109

Atlanta 108, Cleveland 107

Houston 122, Indiana 103

Memphis 108, Milwaukee 102

Orlando 122, New Orleans 105

Denver at Phoenix, late

Portland 106, New Zealand Breakers 66

Today's games

Boston at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. Lakers vs Sacramento, 7 p.m.

Thursday's games

Charlotte at Washington, 4 p.m. Oklahoma City vs Detroit, 4 p.m.

Orlando at Cleveland, 4 p.m.

Maccabi Ra'anana at Brooklyn, 4:30 p.m. Memphis at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m.

Denver at Chicago, 5 p.m.

New Orleans vs Houston, 5 p.m.

Phoenix at Portland, 7 p.m.

Friday's games

Miami at San Antonio, 4:30 p.m. Golden State at Lakers, 7 p.m.

FINALS

-126/+108

-120/+102 -144/+122

Line

-118/-102 -205/+168 -295/+235 -320/+250 -164/+136 -137/+114

(Best-of-5; x-if necessary)

Las Vegas 1, New York 0 Game 1: Today: Sunday: x-Oct. 18: x-Oct. 20:

Las Vegas 99, New York 82 at Las Vegas, 6 p.m. at New York, noon at New York, 5 p.m. at Las Vegas, 6 p.m.

At Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena Shanghai

Purse:

Surface:

$8,800,000

Hardcourt outdoor

MEN'S SINGLES

Round of 16

Fabian Marozsan, Hungary, def. Casper Ruud (8), Norway, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-4. Sebastian Korda (26), United States, def. Francisco Cerundolo (20), Argentina, 7-5, 7-6 (6). Ben Shelton (19), United States, def. Jannik Sinner (6), Italy, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5). Hubert Hurkacz (16), Poland, def. Zhang Zhizhen, China, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (4).

At Victoria Park, Hong Kong Purse:

Surface:

$259,303

Hardcourt outdoor

WOMEN'S SINGLES

Round of 32

Mirra Andreeva, Russia, def. Dayana Yastremska, Ukraine, 6-4, 6-3. Katerina Siniakova, Czech Republic, def. Wang Xiyu, China, 6-4, 7-6 (7). Kamilla Rakhimova, Russia, def. Varvara Gracheva (8), Russia, 6-3, 6-2. Priscilla Hon, Australia, def. Eudice Wong Chong, Hong Kong, China, 7-5, 7-5. Martina Trevisan (6), Italy, def. Cristina Bucsa, Spain, 7-5,

6-2. Anna Blinkova (5), Russia, def. Yulia Putintseva, Kazakhstan, 6-4, 2-6, 5-1, ret . Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Russia, def. Jana Fett, Croatia, 6-0, 6-0. Leylah Annie Fernandez, Canada, def. Victoria Azarenka (1), Belarus, 2-6, 6-3, ret. Linda Fruhvirtova, Czech Republic, def. Peyton Stearns (7), United States, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Wang Xinyu (4), China, def. Elina Avanesyan, Russia, 6-2, 4-1, ret.

WTA-KOREA OPEN

At Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center Seoul, South Korea

Purse: $259,303

Surface: Hardcourt outdoor

WOMEN'S SINGLES

Round of 32

Ashlyn Krueger, United States, def. Nadia Podoroska, Argentina, 6-2, 6-4. Jang Su Jeong, South Korea, def. Sofia Kenin (5), United States, 6-1, 6-4. Eva Lys, Germany, def. Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova, Slovakia, 6-2, 6-4. Jessica Pegula (1), United States, def. Viktoria Hruncakova, Slovakia, 6-2, 6-4. Kimberly Birrell, Australia, def. Sachia Vickery, United States, 6-4, 6-4. Emina Bektas, United States, def. Laura Pigossi, Brazil, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5. Dayeon Back, South Korea, def. Jelena Ostapenko (2), Latvia, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4). Marie Bouzkova (4), Czech Republic, def. Kayla Day, United States, 6-4, 6-4.