Adams Oates hired as D.C. Capitals head coach

Adam Oates, the former assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils for the past two years, will become the Washington, D.C. Capitals 16th coach. While assisting with New Jersey, working under John MacLean, Jacques Lemaire, and Pete DeBoer, Oats helped improve the Devils’ power play from 29th in the National Hockey League, or 14 percent in 2010-11, up to 14th last season, or 17.2 percent.

“Adam was a highly intelligent player in the NHL for 19 seasons. He has been an assistant coach in our conference for the past three seasons and is prepared to lead our club as head coach,” remarked the team’s vice president and general manager, George McPhee. Oates played for seven teams over his 19-year NHL career, including six seasons with the Capitals from 1997 to 2002. Oates, 49, led the Caps in playoff scoring in 1998 as Washington advanced to its only Stanley Cup Final in team history.