Confirming earlier reports, the Washington Capitals have officially announced the hiring of Adam Oates as their head coach via a press release. The team will introduce Oates at a 3 p.m. ET Wednesday press conference at Verizon Center.
Washington Capitals Confirm Hiring Of Adam Oates As Next Head Coach
“We are very pleased to name Adam Oates as the new head coach of the Washington Capitals,” said team general manager George McPhee. “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.”
Oates played for the Capitals from 1996 to 2002, captaining the club as they advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998. They were swept by the Detroit Red Wings in that series, but it's the furthest the Caps have ever advanced in the postseason.
Oates was most recently the assistant coach of the New Jersey Devils under Pete DeBoer. He served the same role the year prior under head coaches John MacLean and Jacques Lemaire. He got his start in coaching as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning before the 2009-10 season.
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