Adam Oates's Quotes

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, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Edmonton Oilers. Known as an elite playmaker, Oates’ career total of 1,079 assists was the fifth-highest total in NHL history at the time of his 2004 retirement.

Adam Oates's selected quotes:

Adam Oates about Need:

Even the superstars need to be coached once in awhile.

Adam Oates about Day:

You eat and sleep it all day long and play on the streets until mom calls ...
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Adam Oates about School:

I was 19 years old, pumping gas and going nowhere. I was kind of a high ...
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Adam Oates about Good:

I was a punk. I think that's why I'm such a good person now, because I ...
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Adam Oates about Family:

Growing up as a kid my father was British and a soccer player. His idol was ...
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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, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Edmonton Oilers. Known as an elite playmaker, Oates’ career sum of 1,079 assists was the fifth-highest sum in NHL chronicles at the times of his 2004 retirement.

After retiring as a player, Oates served as an accomplice coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils prior to 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 school player, Oates was a standout forward for the RPI Engineers. He set single-season scholarly records for assists and points and was named an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) all-star and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-American 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 wedding album for most points all-time of any NHL performer who then played NCAA Hockey. Oates was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame upon November 12, 2012.

All quotes from Adam Oates sorted alphabetically:

Adam Oates about Head:

Assistant coaches become a little bit more buddies to the players than a head coach.

Adam Oates about Family:

Growing up as a kid my father was British and a soccer player. His idol was a guy that passed the ball a lot, Stanley Matthews. Our family thought if you could be unselfish your teammates would always like you.

Adam Oates about Need:

Even the superstars need to be coached once in awhile.

Adam Oates about Work:

I can't be a hypocrite as a coach because as a player that's what I wanted. I wanted feedback, I wanted communication from the boss. I showed up for work, you can yell at me if you want, but I want input. So that's the kind of coach I want to be.

Adam Oates about School:

I was 19 years old, pumping gas and going nowhere. I was kind of a high school dropout at that point because I had left school to play hockey, but no one drafted me.

Adam Oates about Good:

I was a punk. I think that's why I'm such a good person now, because I was such a bad guy then.

Adam Oates about Day:

You eat and sleep it all day long and play on the streets until mom calls you in. My story is no different than anybody else's.

Adam Oates about Dad:

I went to the Hall of Fame with my dad. I can't say I really remember too much about it.