Adam Oates - Coaching Career

Coaching Career

The Tampa Bay Lightning hired Oates as an assistant coach in the 2009–10 season where he worked with the team's offense. Under his guidance, the team's power play finished ninth in the league and he was credited with playing a significant role in Steven Stamkos's offensive development. Oates then joined the New Jersey Devils in 2010 where he served an additional two years as an assistant coach, helping the team reach the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, which they lost to the Los Angeles Kings. New Jersey's General Manager, Lou Lamoriello, praised Oates' work with the team: "He did an outstanding job for us. I wish him well. He's very communicative, very intelligent, he explains things very well. He has the resume behind him as a player and having the success he had - all the credentials are there for having the kind of respect players have for him."

The same day that he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, June 26, 2012, Oates returned to Washington, where he was named the 16th head coach in franchise history, succeeding Dale Hunter. His former teammates praised the move, calling him a "detail-oriented players' coach" with excellent communication skills.

As a result of NHL Lockout in 2012-13, the Capitals decided to give him some experience with the franchise, and assigned him Co-Coach with Mark French for their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. Two-way players who are available for both Washington and Hershey assigned to Hershey for the duration of the lockout will gain experience with him during this.