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June 26, 2012 was one heck of a day for Adam Oates. The former NHL center found out that day that he would be joining the hockey elite with enshrinement into the Hall of Fame. Oates didn't have time to celebrate since he was in Washington D.C. where he was introduced as the 16th Head Coach in Washington Capitals history.
Its the first head coaching job for the 50 year old Oates who got his first experience behind the bench in the 2009-2010 season, working for then Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach Rick Tocchet. Oates spent the last two seasons as an assistant in New Jersey and worked for three different coaches, John McLean, Jacques Lemaire and Peter DeBoer.
Who knows how he will do as a Head Coach but Oates induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame was well deserved. Over a 19 year playing career that included stops in Detroit, St. Louis, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Anaheim and Edmonton, Oates racked up more than a point game. He had 1,420 points(16th best in NHL history) in 1,337 games. His career assist total of 1,079 is 6th best in league history. Only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux averaged more assists per game than Adam Oates.
A five time all star, one of Oates' high points was certainly the 1990-91 season when his playmaking helped line mate Brett Hull record 86 goals, the third greatest single season goal total in NHL history. That was part of an amazing five year run for the Ontario native. From 1989 to 1994, Oates had more points than everyone in the NHL except for Gretzky.
Oates, who joined the league as an undrafted free agent following a tremendous college career with RPI, was also a standout performer in the post season. He ended up with 156 points in 163 career playoff games. Oates also crossed paths with the Sabres on a couple of notable playoff occasions. He was on the Bruins team that was swept out of the 1993 playoffs thanks to May Day. Oates was smiling through the handshake line in 1998 when he and his then Caps teammates eliminated Buffalo in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Its the first head coaching job for the 50 year old Oates who got his first experience behind the bench in the 2009-2010 season, working for then Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach Rick Tocchet. Oates spent the last two seasons as an assistant in New Jersey and worked for three different coaches, John McLean, Jacques Lemaire and Peter DeBoer.
Who knows how he will do as a Head Coach but Oates induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame was well deserved. Over a 19 year playing career that included stops in Detroit, St. Louis, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Anaheim and Edmonton, Oates racked up more than a point game. He had 1,420 points(16th best in NHL history) in 1,337 games. His career assist total of 1,079 is 6th best in league history. Only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux averaged more assists per game than Adam Oates.
A five time all star, one of Oates' high points was certainly the 1990-91 season when his playmaking helped line mate Brett Hull record 86 goals, the third greatest single season goal total in NHL history. That was part of an amazing five year run for the Ontario native. From 1989 to 1994, Oates had more points than everyone in the NHL except for Gretzky.
Oates, who joined the league as an undrafted free agent following a tremendous college career with RPI, was also a standout performer in the post season. He ended up with 156 points in 163 career playoff games. Oates also crossed paths with the Sabres on a couple of notable playoff occasions. He was on the Bruins team that was swept out of the 1993 playoffs thanks to May Day. Oates was smiling through the handshake line in 1998 when he and his then Caps teammates eliminated Buffalo in the Eastern Conference Finals.