Barry Melrose’s death on Wednesday brought a heavy note to a week that had otherwise been all about the slow grind toward the preseason. He was 70.
Melrose had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2023, a diagnosis that led him to step away from ESPN after more than two decades in some role with the network. For years, he was one of the few consistent hockey voices on a channel that rarely gave the sport much room to breathe.
That was the frustrating part of the ESPN years for hockey fans: even as Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin were driving the league, the sport often felt like an afterthought there. Melrose was the exception. Even when he was only getting 60 seconds a night on a good night, he stayed in the mix, pushing the NHL and the game itself when not many others were doing it.
People always had opinions on him, and he clearly knew how to provoke them. But there’s no denying he mattered. He should be remembered not just as a player and a coach, but as someone who lived and breathed hockey in a way that fit the label “hockey guy” perfectly.
Elsewhere in the hockey news cycle, Chris Kreider’s name suddenly hit the waiver wire in a big way. The Anaheim Ducks placed him on waivers Wednesday with the goal of terminating his contract, a move first reported by Elliotte Friedman and later confirmed by the NHL.
If Kreider clears waivers, he becomes an unrestricted free agent. There were also reports circulating that Kreider or his camp may not be eager to report to just any team that claims him, which makes it sound likely he could end up available to choose his next move.
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski reported that Kreider is said to want to go back to the East Coast and be closer to home. That has naturally stirred up Boston speculation, though it’s not quite that simple. Kreider also spent more than a decade around New York City, so “closer to home” doesn’t automatically point to Massachusetts.
Still, a player who posted 50 points last season and remains capable of making a real impact becoming available is the kind of thing that gets attention fast. Kreider is expected to clear waivers at some point on Thursday, and after that, the rumor mill can really get moving.
In Other News...
Charlie McAvoy Finally Addressed The Play That Got Him Suspended
Charlie McAvoy is still sorting through the play that turned into a major early-season storyline for the Bruins, and the defenseman finally offered his side of it after the NHLs Department of Player Safety handed down a six-game suspension. The incident came after a playoff sequence against Buffalo, when McAvoy was assessed a match penalty for slashing Sabres forward Zach Benson, a moment that quickly became a flashpoint because of how heated and dangerous it looked in real time.
McAvoy framed the exchange as a response to what he saw as a dangerous slew-footing play, but he also acknowledged the reaction went too far. He said a broken hand played a role in why he did not square off with Benson then and there, adding another layer to a situation that already carried discipline, frustration and a lot of second-guessing for Boston heading into the new season. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Are Suddenly Tied To A Veteran Scorer With Camp Looming
With camp looming and the Bruins still sorting out their roster for the 2026-27 season, the team has found itself connected to a familiar veteran scorer. Elliotte Friedman has mentioned interest in bringing Chris Kreider back to Boston, and while nothing has been finalized, the possibility adds another layer to a forward group that still appears to be in flux as decisions draw closer.
A move like that would not just be about adding another name to the lineup, either. It could force the Bruins to rework how their bottom half of the forward group fits together, and one of the more notable ripple effects would be on players pushing for everyday roles. For a team trying to lock in its roster ahead of the season, the timing of this kind of speculation makes the next few weeks worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Linked To Veteran Scorer In Complicated Waiver Twist
The latest waiver wrinkle around Chris Kreider adds another layer to a Bruins offseason that already has more than a few moving parts. Anaheim placed the veteran forward on waivers for contract termination, and the situation has drawn attention around the league because Kreider still brings a proven scoring track record and would instantly become one of the more recognizable names available if the process keeps moving.
There is also a broader front-office backdrop worth watching, with Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman reporting that Detroit requested permission to interview general manager candidates but never followed through after getting the green light. That kind of uncertainty can ripple beyond one organization, especially with restricted free agents like Simon Edvinsson waiting on a new GM in Detroit, and it leaves the Bruins in the middle of a complicated market where a player of Kreiders stature could still wind up in an unexpected place. [Read more 🡒]