Welcome to another edition of the offseason Morning Skate, folks!
As we get into the double-digit dates of September, we’re getting nearer to the preseason Morning Skate, so…you’ve almost made it.
Barry Melrose passes away
The hockey world got some sad news late on Wednesday, as Barry Melrose passed away at the age of 70.
In 2023, it was revealed that Melrose had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, leading him to step away from ESPN. Melrose had worked for ESPN in some capacity for more than two decades at that point.
Much like today’s hockey analysts or intermission talking heads, people had a variety of different opinions on Melrose — I always thought he was entertaining, even if his takes didn’t always land with me (kind of the point of an analyst).
However, there’s no denying that he was essentially the only guy keeping the hockey lights on at ESPN for the better part of a decade.
Prior to ESPN reacquiring some NHL broadcasting rights a few years ago, the game was essentially a no-go zone on the Worldwide Leader in Sports.
You were more likely to see a multi-view highlight package of a blocked punt than to see any sort of in-depth hockey content, even during the years where legitimate stars like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin were carrying the league.
Melrose remained a constant, however, even if ESPN only gave him 60 seconds a night (on a good night).
He deserves a lot of credit for his commitment to championing both the NHL and the sport of hockey, particularly during a time when there weren’t many doing so.
While Melrose should be remembered for his achievements as a player and a coach as well, he’ll ultimately be remembered as a true hockey guy, which he’d likely take as the ultimate compliment.
Kreid or die
News that Chris Kreider was placed on waivers by the Anaheim Ducks in order to have his contract terminated raised many eyebrows around these parts on Wednesday.
The move, first reported by Elliotte Friedman and since confirmed by the NHL itself, requires Kreider to pass through waivers before becoming an unrestricted free agent, if no one claims him.
There were other reports out there on the Internet indicating that Kreider or his representatives are making it known that he may not report to any old team that claims him, so it seems like the odds are pretty good that he’ll hit the open market.
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski noted that Kreider reportedly wants to head back to the East Coast and closer to home.
While many pointed to that as evidence of a Massachusetts return, it’s worth remembering Kreider also called New York City (or the general area) home for more than a decade, so there’s no guarantees he’s talking about Boston.
Still, the idea of a guy who still made an impact and put up 50 points last season suddenly being available and (potentially) interested is enough to get people talking.
Kreider should officially clear waivers at some point on Thursday; after that, let the rumors begin.
By now, I hope many of you have had a chance to try out the SB Nation app, available for both Android and iOS.
The feedback has generally been positive so far, with most reporting a much-improved experience for those who primarily browse on mobile.
If you haven’t tried it out yet, give it a shot. Unfortunately, I don’t have an ETA on Canadian availability at this point, but we are advocating for you folks to gain access too.
What else is on tap for today?
