Legends Night honoree Melrose recognized at luncheon

Barry Melrose has 209 games next to his name as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Kings, though as Darryl Sutter will tell you, it’s always about the playoffs.

Melrose was the first Kings coach to lead the team out of the second round of the playoffs, and after a thrilling seven-game Campbell Conference Final against the Toronto Maple Leafs, brought the club to its first Stanley Cup appearance in 1993. He’ll be honored before tonight’s game against the Calgary Flames as part of a pre-game Legends Night ceremony. The Kings will debut their gold third jerseys during tonight’s game.

Earlier today, Melrose spoke at a special Legends Luncheon at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar at L.A. Live, telling those in attendance stories about Tony Granato – including one story in which Granato found himself in a back-and-forth slashing exhibition with Ulf Samuelsson during a Kings-Penguins game – and Luc Robitaille, this season’s two other Legends Nights honorees.

The ESPN anchor also commended the club’s longstanding broadcasters.

Barry Melrose, to Nick Nickson, on broadcasting: "You and Bob Miller made it look so easy."

— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) February 12, 2015

Melrose: "I want to work as long as Bob Miller. That's all I want."

— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) February 12, 2015

On whether it was possible to watch last year’s Los Angeles-Chicago playoff series and not be reminded of the playoff series against Toronto in 1993:
No, it isn’t. Unfortunately, your memory doesn’t stop working. When the Kings won the first time, I was really charged because I know a lot of the guys here and stuff. But it’s in the back of your mind, you wish that would’ve been their second Cup, not the first Cup. Anytime you see a great series like that, your thoughts are pushed back to that series because that was such a great series. But the Kings have been involved in a lot of them lately. That San Jose series was fantastic. They don’t do things easy. Quick has to be unbelievable or whatever, but they’re a fun team to watch and, as I said, they’re the best organization in the NHL right now.

On whether there is a specific moment he remembers from training camp before the 1992-93 season:
The thing I remember quick in the training camp was how hard the guys worked. Practices were great. I really like fast practices. Everything was high tempo and the guys loved doing it like that. They really took to it. Our practices were excellent. And then, Gretzky being hurt in training camp changed the dynamics of things. But right from day one, I loved the work ethic of the guys. You could tell they liked each other, they liked being around each other and, as I said, the speed they played at was very important.

There was excellent coverage on ESPN as Melrose sat down with Neil Everett in the Melrose Man Cave to discuss tonight’s Legends Night and his memories from his 1992-95 tenure.

A silent auction was held at today’s event to benefit the Kings’ Alumni Association.