Caps hire Adam Oates as coach

Oates played in DC during the NHL's Ugly Jersey Era

 WASHINGTON -- Adam Oates is the new head coach of the Washington Capitals.  Oates leaves the New Jersey Devils after two seasons behind the bench as an assistant coach.  He was also an assistant in Tampa Bay in 2009-10.The former star NHL center played in Washington from 1996 to 2002.

"We are very pleased to name Adam Oates as the new head coach of the Washington Capitals," Capitals general manager George McPhee said in a statement. "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."

Since its almost July talking hockey seems ludicrous so I'll keep this short.  Few notes:

-  Welcome back, Adam Oates.  Okay then.  Who else can we recycle from those late 90's Caps teams?  Kolzig is already the goalie coach...what's Rick Tabaracci up to?



Nice to have you back, Adam.  Leave this jersey at home.

 -  GM George McPhee (GMGM) has enough credibility with me that I'm rolling with him on this hire.  At least he's decisive.  He just confidently hires one coach after another (Boudreau then Hunter) with zero head coaching experience...and they work out.  Boudreau got the Caps to perennial regular season champs (just could not figure out the playoffs) and Hunter came within a Ovie wrist shot off the pipe of going to the Conference Finals.  Let's see what Oates can do.     

-  Oates is credited with bringing the Devils PP from worst to first.  Hopefully he can work his magic with a Caps PP that was woefully incompetent all last season.

-  Very interested to see what he can do with Backstrom and newly-signed C Mike Ribeiro.