Professional Playing Career

Melrose began his hockey career as a defenseman in 1974 with the Kamloops Chiefs of the Western Canadian Hockey League (WCHL), where he played for two seasons. In the 1976–77 season, he joined the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League (AHL) before moving mid-season to the Cincinnati Stingers of the World Hockey Association (WHA). He remained with the Stingers until the league ceased operations in 1979.

Following the WHA's merger with the NHL, Melrose joined the Winnipeg Jets for the 1979–80 NHL season. He later split his time between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs, as well as their respective AHL affiliates. He played his final season with the Adirondack Red Wings during the 1986–87 campaign. Throughout his professional career, Melrose played in over 300 games, scoring 10 goals and contributing 23 assists, while accumulating 728 penalty minutes. He appeared in seven playoff games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, recording two goals and 38 penalty minutes.

Coaching Career and the 1993 Stanley Cup Final

After retiring as a player, Melrose transitioned to coaching. He began with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), leading them to a Memorial Cup Championship. He then spent one season with the Seattle Thunderbirds, followed by three seasons with the Adirondack Red Wings in the AHL. During his tenure with Adirondack, the team won the Calder Cup in the 1991–92 season.

Melrose gained national recognition as head coach of the Los Angeles Kings. In the 1992–93 NHL season, his first behind the Kings’ bench, he led the team to the Stanley Cup Final—a franchise-first at the time—where they were ultimately defeated by the Montreal Canadiens.