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Adam Robert Oates (born August 27, 1962) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, former co-head coach for the New Jersey Devils and former head coach for the Washington Capitals. He played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers from 1985 to 2004. Known as an elite playmaker, Oates's career total of 1,079 assists was the fifth-highest total in NHL history at the time of his 2004 retirement. He has the second highest number of games played and points scored among undrafted NHL players (behind Wayne Gretzky) with 1,337 and 1,420, respectively.
After retiring as a player, Oates served as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils before joining the Capitals as their head coach for two seasons, from 2012 to 2014. In 2017, Oates was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.
As a college player, Oates was a standout forward for the RPI Engineers. He set single-season school records for assists and points. He was named an ECAC Hockey (ECAC) all-star and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in both 1984 and 1985. Oates was named a tournament all-star in helping RPI win the 1985 national championship, and in 1990–91, the NHL included him in its second All-Star team; he played in five All-Star Games. He holds the record for most points all-time of any NHL player who also played NCAA Hockey.
Oates was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 12, 2012.
Oates played five seasons with the Etobicoke Eclipse of the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) Junior A Lacrosse League. An offensive standout, Oates' total of 181 points in 19 games in 1981 was the 11th highest total in OLA junior history at the time. As the league's leading scorer, he won the Bobby Allan Award and in one game that season, set OLA Junior A single-game records of 19 assists and 29 points. Oates played one season of senior lacrosse with the Brampton Excelsiors of Major Series Lacrosse but left the game in 1984 to focus on his hockey career.
Describing his younger self as a "punk", Oates said he partied frequently. He dropped out of high school to focus on hockey and ended up working as a gas station attendant at age 19. Oates played two full seasons and parts of a third with the junior hockey Markham Waxers of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League (OPJAHL). He scored 89 points in 43 games during 1980–81 and 159 points – including 105 assists – in 1981–82. He went unselected in the NHL Entry Draft, however, as scouts considered him too slow to play in the NHL. He returned to high school to complete his diploma when he was recruited to play for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
In 1984–85, Oates broke his own school records by recording 60 assists and 91 points. His career total of 150 assists remains a school record . Again named an NCAA All-American, he was voted to the ECAC first all-star team and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top hockey player in the NCAA. After helping RPI win the 1985 national championship, he was included in the all-tournament team. In his three years with RPI, the Engineers recorded an record and won the ECAC championships in 1984 and 1985. Oates was voted to the ECAC's all-decade team of the 1980s. He was inducted into RPI's Athletics Hall of Fame and was named the inaugural member of the hockey team's Ring of Honor in 2004.
Oates became a fulltime NHLer in 1986–87, scoring 47 points in 76 games. He improved to 54 points in 63 games the following year despite missing a month due to a groin injury, and finished third in team scoring with 78 points in 1988–89. However, Detroit made changes following a first round loss in the playoffs; Oates, along with Paul MacLean, was traded to the St. Louis Blues on June 15, 1989, in exchange for veterans Bernie Federko and Tony McKegney. The deal, which is now considered one of the worst in Red Wings' history, left Oates "heartbroken" to leave his first NHL club.
The Blues made Oates their first-line centre and played him alongside Brett Hull. The pair, dubbed "Hull and Oates" as a play on the band Hall and Oates, put up prolific offensive numbers. In 1989–90, Oates topped the 100-point mark for the first time in his career with 102 points. He improved to 115 in 1990–91. He helped Hull score 72 and 86 goals those seasons, the latter the third highest in single-season total in NHL history. Oates was named to the second all-star team following the season and played in the 1991 All-Star Game.
Oates signed a four-year, $3 million contract extension with the Blues prior to the 1991–92 season, but after the team signed Brendan Shanahan, Garth Butcher and Ron Sutter to significant deals, felt he was underpaid. After playing in his second career All-Star Game, he threatened to walk off the team following the All-Star break if the Blues did not renegotiate his contract, prompting a negative reaction from St. Louis fans, who booed him loudly. The conflict was resolved on February 7, 1992, when the team traded him to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Craig Janney and Stéphane Quintal.
A finger injury suffered during the 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs hampered Oates throughout the 1994–95 season and required surgery at the season's conclusion. Despite the injury, Oates finished fourth in the NHL with 41 assists in a season disrupted by a work stoppage. In game five of the conference quarter-final series against the New Jersey Devils, Oates scored the final goal in the history of the Boston Garden in a 3–2 loss. The Bruins signed him to a five-year, $10 million contract extension late in that season, but Oates once again became frustrated with his salary relative to the rest of the league by 1997. With the Bruins struggling on the ice and out of playoff contention late in 1996–97 season, Oates publicly berated team management, saying, "You go on a road trip and everyone says it's a big trip. For what? So we can win five games because we're lousy and we get in the eighth spot and lose four straight and get embarrassed and then get shelled all summer? It's upstairs, baby. That's their job, not ours. ... Are we rebuilding? What are we doing? What direction are we going in?"
Less than two weeks after his tirade, on March 1, 1997, Oates was traded to the Washington Capitals. In the trade, Oates, Bill Ranford and Rick Tocchet went to Washington in exchange for Jim Carey, Anson Carter, Jason Allison and two draft picks, 3rd Round 1997 (Lee Goren) & Conditional 2nd Round 1998 (Bobby Allen) Oates initially refused to report to Washington, demanding his contract be renegotiated, but chose to join the team after a four-day holdout. He continued to demand a new contract in the off-season, while his Sports agent claimed Oates would retire before playing for the Capitals again. After several months of contentious negotiations, the two sides agreed to a three-year contract worth around $2.9 million per season with an option on a fourth year.
Oates became the 47th player in NHL history, and the 15th fastest, to score his 1,000th career point on October 7, 1997, against the New York Islanders. He reached the milestone by scoring a hat-trick and adding two assists for the sixth five-point game of his career. He finished the 1997–98 season as the team leader with 56 assists, and second to Peter Bondra in team scoring with 78 points. The Capitals reached the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals, which they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in a four-game sweep; their first finals appearance in franchise history.
The Capitals named Oates the ninth captain in franchise history prior to the 1999–2000 season, following the departure of his predecessor, Dale Hunter. He led the team in scoring with 71 points and played his 1,000th NHL game on December 22, 1999, against the Vancouver Canucks. He led the league in assists the following two seasons, at the ages of 38 and 39, with 69 in 2000–01 and 64 in 2001–02. On January 14, 2002, Oates became the eighth player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career assists when he set up Dainus Zubrus' overtime winning goal in a 1–0 victory over the Boston Bruins.
The Flyers chose not to offer Oates a new contract following the loss, making him an Free agent. He then signed a $3.5 million contract for the 2002–03 season, with an option for 2003–04, with the Anaheim Ducks on July 1, 2002. He scored 45 points in 67 games with the Mighty Ducks, and added 13 points in 21 playoff games. Anaheim reached the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, where in the third game of the series against the New Jersey Devils, Oates assisted on Ruslan Salei's overtime-winning goal. It was Oates' ninth career playoff overtime point, tying him with Joe Sakic and Doug Gilmour for the NHL all-time lead. The Ducks ultimately lost the series in seven games.
The Mighty Ducks declined their option on the 41-year-old Oates' contract, again making him a free agent. He remained unsigned six weeks into the 2003–04 season until he agreed to a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers on November 17, 2003. He appeared in 60 games in Edmonton, scoring 2 goals and 16 assists. The Oilers were eliminated from playoff contention in their final game of the season with a 5–2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on April 4, 2004. Oates announced his retirement as a player immediately after the game.
Oates led the NHL in assists three times – 1992–93, 2000–01 and 2001–02 – and finished in the top ten on 12 occasions. Oates finished third in league scoring three times; 1990–91, 1992–93, and 1993–94. He is also the only player in NHL history to centre three 50-goal scorers, helping Brett Hull, Cam Neely, and Peter Bondra reach the mark. His teammates praised his consistency, noting Oates continued to score points at an elite level when he did not have star players as linemates. Oates scored himself, reaching the 20-goal mark seven times, including a career-high 45 in 1992–93, a season in which he led the league with 11 game-winning goals. Boston teammate Ray Bourque suggested in 1994 that Oates was underrated, saying, "I think a lot of people take what he does for granted. He does it in a quiet way. He's not a flashy guy. He's not looking for attention, he just goes out and does it. He's the best centerman I've been around. I never knew he was this good playing against him because I didn't see him this much." Others noted that Oates never received the attention nor honors of the other nine players on the NHL's top ten all-time assists list.
When the NHL resumed for the shortened 2012–13 season, Oates and the Capitals struggled initially and won only 2 of their first 11 games. However, the team improved throughout the season and went from last place in the Southeast Division to first; they won 15 of their final 19 games to win the division title. Oates' players praised his positive outlook and willingness to work closely with them as primary reasons why the team was able to turn its season around. However, the Capitals were defeated in the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, losing to the New York Rangers in seven games.
The Capitals struggled throughout the 2013–14 season and faced increasing discontent from the fans as the team had failed to advance far into the playoffs in 16 years. The team finished with a 38–30–14 record, but finished ninth in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs. As a consequence, the Capitals opted to dismiss both Oates as head coach and the team's general manager, George McPhee.
In 2018 Oates joined the Los Angeles Kings as a team consultant.
Oates is a co-founder of sporting apparel retailer Old Time Hockey, which donates a portion of all sales to the NHL emergency assistance fund. Oates operated a men's boutique on 69th and 3rd in New York City for a few years, which he discussed when profiled by Harry Rosen.
His parents are David and Loretta, and he has two sisters: Michelle and Laurel. Oates was once engaged to model and actress Darlene Vogel; however, the couple cancelled their planned 1998 marriage at the last moment. He also has a house in Osterville, Massachusetts. RSG Construction Inc. Oates residence Retrieved 2017-05-04. He also founded the Oates Sports Group, where he mentors upcoming hockey players, holding development programs in Boston, Toronto and Minneapolis.
| 1979–80 | Markham Waxers | OPJAHL | 9 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1980–81 | Markham Waxers | OPJAHL | 43 | 36 | 53 | 89 | 89 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1981–82 | Markham Waxers | OPJAHL | 47 | 54 | 105 | 159 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1982–83 | R.P.I Engineers | ECAC Hockey | 22 | 9 | 33 | 42 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1983–84 | R.P.I Engineers | ECAC | 38 | 26 | 57 | 83 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1984–85 | R.P.I Engineers | ECAC | 38 | 31 | 60 | 91 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1985–86 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 38 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1985–86 | Adirondack Red Wings | AHL | 34 | 18 | 28 | 46 | 4 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 4 |
| 1986–87 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 76 | 15 | 32 | 47 | 21 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 6 |
| 1987–88 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 63 | 14 | 40 | 54 | 20 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 6 |
| 1988–89 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 69 | 16 | 62 | 78 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| 1989–90 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 80 | 23 | 79 | 102 | 30 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 4 |
| 1990–91 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 61 | 25 | 90 | 115 | 29 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 10 |
| 1991–92 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 54 | 10 | 59 | 69 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1991–92 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 26 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 10 | 15 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 4 |
| 1992–93 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 84 | 45 | 97 | 142 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 4 |
| 1993–94 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 77 | 32 | 80 | 112 | 45 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 8 |
| 1994–95 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 48 | 12 | 41 | 53 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1995–96 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 70 | 25 | 67 | 92 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 |
| 1996–97 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 63 | 18 | 52 | 70 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996–97 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 17 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997–98 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 82 | 18 | 58 | 76 | 36 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 8 |
| 1998–99 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 59 | 12 | 42 | 54 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–00 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 82 | 15 | 56 | 71 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 2000–01 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 81 | 13 | 69 | 82 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001–02 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 66 | 11 | 57 | 68 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001–02 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 14 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002–03 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 67 | 9 | 36 | 45 | 16 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 6 |
| 2003–04 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 60 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 48 | 27 | 18 | 3 | .600 | 1st, Southeast | Lost in first round (NYR) |
| 2013–14 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 82 | 38 | 30 | 14 | .549 | 5th, Metropolitan | Missed playoffs |
| College | ||
| All-ECAC Hockey Second Team | 1983–84 | |
| AHCA East First-Team All-American | 1983–84 1984–85 | |
| All-ECAC Hockey First Team | 1984–85 | |
| NCAA National Champion | 1985 | |
| All-NCAA All-Tournament Team | 1985 | |
| RPI athletics hall of fame | 2004 |
| National Hockey League | ||
| Second team All-Star | 1990–91 | |
| Played in NHL All-Star Game | 1991 1992 1993 1994 1997 | |
| Hockey Hall of Fame | 2012 | |
| 100 Greatest NHL Players | 2017 |
| Boston Bruins | |
| Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy | 1992-93 |
| Bruins 3 Stars Award | 1992-93 1993-94 1995-96 |
| Named One of the Top 100 Best Bruins Players of all Time | 2023 |
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