Introducing Red Steel, Adam Oates New Look

Some call it a kissy face, some call it a duck face, I call it...RED STEEL

"Who cares about Adam Oates anyway? The man has only one look for Christ's sake! Red Steel, Ferrari, Latigra? They're the same face! Doesn't anyone notice this?! I feel like I'm taking crazy pills."

Adam Oates Bro Smiles With Nick Backstrom

The Caps lost to the Senators on Tuesday night, but one of the more interesting moments came in the first period as the Caps took a 2-0 lead on an Erskine secondary assisted goal by Matt Hendricks.  After the goal the cameras caught the typically stern-faced Washington Capital's coach Adam Oates with a big smile on his face.

Oates looked over at Backstrom and shared a Bro Smile before Oates realized he may be on camera and he tucked away his smile.

Gif after the jump:

The Caps Skate To Classical Music

Here's another quick video from Caps training camp.  Adam Oates had the players skating laps during practice, and the players went in groups with their same color jerseys.

It was quite the colorful situation.  Check it out!

View All The DCSN At Training Camp Videos Here!

3 Reasons Why A Shortened Season Could Help The Capitals

3 Benefits Of A Shortened Season

I.  YOUTH- With an average player age of 26.91, the Capitals will have one of the youngest teams in the league. 13 players under 27 will be returning to this year's team as well. Hamerlik (37) and Poti (35) are the only two outliers on the team over 32 years of age. Youth can work magic in a lockout shortened season by adding speed, agility, less fatigue, and speedy recoveries from minor injuries. A youthful experienced (Oxymoron, I know) team is just what the Caps will have this season.



II. TWO TALENTED GOALIES- Not that having two young and very talented goalies would be a bad thing in an 82 game season, but in a 50 game season it's even more necessary. Holtby (23) and Nuevirth (24) should have no problem alternating games here and there to keep each other at their peak physical condition. This will definitely come into play in a condensed season where teams may be playing more games than they are accustomed to in a shorter period of time.


III.  NO PREPERATION TIME FOR OPPONENTS- With a 50 game schedule and a lockout exterminated preseason the Capitals Southeast opponents will have less time to figure out Adam Oates' style of coaching (see how this could hurt too below).   This will be incredibly beneficial because divisional opponents will be more concerned with their own team troubles rather than spending their time trying to figure out ways to play other teams, especially a team with a brand new head coach.

Written By Caps Contributor Aaron Ebert @AaronEbert22

Read The 3 Ways A Shortened Season Could Hurt The Capitals

Lockout Over, Goalie Controversy Begin!

With the NHL Lockout finally over after four arduous months, the spot light has now turned back to the individual NHL teams and how they'll prepare for the shortened season. For many Caps fans, there are several anxious questions that they are waiting to have answered:

• How will Adam Oates fair in his first season as an NHL coach?
• How will Adam Oates system look?
• How will the Caps play without Alexander Semin?
• How will Mike Riberio fit into his new team?

And one of the biggest questions; Who will be starting in the crease?

Braden Holtby had an amazing playoffs, but this is the Washington Capitals...who knows what goalie will start, and what random goalie will appear at the end of the season.

Before the 2011-12 season, the Caps looked like they would be going with Braden Holtby and Michal Neuvirth in goal.  But in somewhat of a shock, General Manager George McPhee signed Tomas Vokoun to a one year deal. His reasoning? Give Holtby a little more time to mature so he would be ready to go when he hit the NHL.

Vokoun was brought in to start, but all of a sudden Neuvirth was named the opening day starter.  Classic Caps!

Fast forward to the Playoffs and to two nicked up goaltenders.  What were the Caps to do?  Call up the rookie and pray for the best.  Bam.  Braden Holtby, starting playoff games.

Holtby performed above expectations.  All of a sudden the Caps, who limped into the playoffs, were in the second round, and chants of "Holtby, Holtby" reigned down from the seats of Verizon.  The Caps had a new star, and a new goalie.

But did Holtby earn himself an automatic bid as the Capitals starter?  Just one season before Michal Neuvirth was the up and coming goalie.

Neuvy played in the NHL the past two seasons mostly as a back up to Semyon Varlomov and Tomas Vokoun, respectively, with his GAA for the two seasons at 2.61. But his real accomplishment came during the 2011 Playoffs where he lead the Caps to a 5 game series victory against the New York Rangers before being swept by the Lightning in the second round.  Neuvrith posted a GAA of 2.34 in those playoffs.

Holtby's run as playoff goaltender went a little better.  The young goalie posted a GAA of under 2 while carrying the team all the way to a seventh game in the second round.  Holtby clearly stood out as a top playoff performer.

Both goalies have their strong suits and quirks which make them both viable contenders for the starting position behind the Caps blue line.  But barring an amazing training camp by Michal Neuvirth, Adam Oates will be have to have a very good reason for not going with Braden Holtby.

Caps Hire Dale Hunter's Brother?

Hmmm.  There seems to be an error in the title of this post.  According to my sources the Washington Capitals did NOT hire Dale Hunter's brother to be an assistant coach.  I guess Hunter is like Hunter up there in Canada.

The coach that was hired is Tim Hunter, a former assistant coach for the Capitals.  And guess when he was coaching.  During the magical 1998 year, which is apparently the thing now.  Other members of that team include former head coach Dale Hunter, new head coach Adam Oates, new assistant coach Calle Johannson, and now new assistant coach Tim Hunter.  And is Olie the Goalie still a coach for the team?

Looks like the band is getting back together.  What's next, hiring Peter Bondra to drive the Zamboni?


I was going to do a Night Of The Hunter photoshop, but that movie is too old for you guys.  And it is WAY too old for me for that matter...

Calle Johannson & Caps Legends Then & Now, From A Noob

The Washington Capitals have hired on a former Caps legend Calle Johannson to be an assistant coach.  As one of the many who wasn't around back in 1998 (or even in 2010 for that matter) I have no clue who that is or what that means.  If I didn't do a quick search just now, I probably wouldn't have known he was a former hockey player.

So that got me thinking.  While everyone is reminiscing about the good old days with Calle Johannson, or most likely pretending that they were a fan in 1998, I should "keep it real" and let you know what I used to think about different Caps personalities.

======================================================

Alan May

How I Knew Him:  A hockey analyst who screamed and yelled a lot.  Despite the Caps record he still seemed to be yelling all the time.  I think he wanted to fight all referees.

How I Should Have Known Him:  A hockey player who screamed and yelled a lot.  Part of the 1990 Washington Capitals team that made it to the conference semi-finals.

How I Know Him Now:  A hockey analyst who screams and yells a lot.  Despite the Caps record he still seemed to be yelling all the time.  I still think he wants to fight all referees.

======================================================

Dale Hunter

How I Knew Him:  Some nice Canadian farmer guy who taught kids how to play hockey in Canada.

How I Should Have Known Him:  Some mean hockey player who was a part of the Washington Capitals 1998 Stanley Cup losing team.

How I Know Him Now:  Some nice Canadian farmer guy who teaches kids how to play hockey in Canada that pissed off Ovechkin.

======================================================

Adam Oates

How I Knew Him:  An awesome player for the Boston Bruins in the Super Nintendo game NHL 94'

How I Should Have Known Him:  A 70 point scorer and one of the reasons the Caps made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998.

How I Know Him Now:  New coach of the Washington Capitals that looks like he doesn't want to be bothered by anyone.

======================================================

Rod Langway

How I Knew Him:  As Rob Langway, a guy I vaguely remember hearing about from NHL 94'

How I Should Have Known Him:  Norris award winning defenseman for the Washington Caps in the early 80's.

How I Know Him Now:  That old guy that was wearing his own jersey and signing autographs for kids that didn't even know who he was at the Caps Fanfest

======================================================

Calle Johannson

How I Knew Him:  Incorrectly as Marcus Johannson's father, hired to help coach the Caps

How I Should Have Known Him:  Former Caps great and defenseman for the 1998 Stanley Cup Final team

How I Know Him Now:  Not Marcus Johannson's father, hired to help coach the Caps

======================================================

Hopefully this gives you an idea as to where I stand with knowing the history of the Washington Capitals.  That way you don't have to get mad at me when I say things like "Who the hell is Calle Johannson!"

George McPhee's Son Graham Gets A Lesson From Adam Oates

On Saturday, after the Washington Capitals wrapped up their final scrimmage of Prospect Development Camp, a young man came out to the empty ice rink with a bucket of pucks.  The teenager looked like he had some skills as he fired long range shots into the net.

After a few minutes Adam Oates emerged from the locker room and headed out on the ice to feed the young man passes.  As the shooter skated past the small crowd that remained in the arena, the back of his shirt clearly read, "McPhee"; as in Graham McPhee, son of Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee.

Graham doesn't live the life of a typical kid headed into his adolescent years.  How many other kids his age can brag to their friends about the time that Alexander Ovechkin gave them an atomic wedgie (video below) while they were on the ice at the 2011 Winter Classic?  Graham gets to do a lot of interesting things because of his father's position.  

George McPhee had a seven year run in the NHL with the Rangers & Devils.  His son is aspiring to follow in his footsteps.  Graham was an All-Star last season in the Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL), having an opportunity to play in front of several college coaches and scouts. 


What better way is there to improve your hockey skills than by learning directly from NHL players and coaches?  On Saturday afternoon, Graham got to do just that, one of the many benefits of being the son of a professional general manager.




Adam Oates joined the young McPhee on the ice and spent time feeding one-timers to the soon-to-be high school freshman, watching him and analyzing his shot.  After one-timers came catching passes and firing wrist shots, a session where Oates got on the young man for a bad leg kicking habit that he had developed.

The practice session was only about twenty minutes long, but those minutes were probably very helpful to a young man who aspires to play hockey in college and possibly beyond.  Shooting with a former 10-time NHL top 20 scorer isn't a bad way for a kid to spend a Saturday afternoon.  And perhaps one day, young Graham will find himself on the ice during a scrimmage, playing in development camp for his father's hockey team.


Wedgie Video after the jump

Welcome home, Adam Oates!

As we all know by now (that is, if you aren't living under a rock), the Cans new head coach is former player, and Captain, Adam Oates. Personally, I couldn't be happier with the move.

Yes, he's never been a head coach before but considering he's played for the Caps (the only year they've ever gone to the conferance finals) and was the assistant coach to the New Jersey Devils who went to the finals this year. Considering that and his strong opening statement, roughly quoting, "the number one priority of the Caps is to win the Cup", I think we've put this team in the right hands.

With the main, and obvious, goal of the Caps is to win the Cup, GMGM signing free agent Mike Ribeiro to center the Caps second line they seem to be headed in the right direction. Now, the Caps have to deal with the loss of winer Alex Semin (well, not quite yet but let's face it, he's leaving). The Caps have got to fin d auitable left wing for the second line. My answer? Look within.

The Caps have a lot of able bodied and skilled players at their finger tips. Take Perreault, for example. He's a greatr skilled player, a little on the short side for the NHL (he's still taller than me!) but he has great talent and is able to switch between wing and center. I think either Perrault, Johannsonn or maybe another player in Hershey or already on the Caps could do the position and line justice.

Oates has his work cut out for him, but with Development Camp and training camp, I think Oates is going to do a great job whipping the Caps into Stanley Cup shape.

Memo To Adam Oates, GET OUT!

That was the line from a 1997 story written by Tony Kornheiser in the Washington Post.  According to the article, Adam Oates' agent said the following:

"Adam Oates will retire before he plays for the Washington Capitals"

Oates was traded from the Bruins to the Capitals in March of 97 where he played 17 games for the Caps.  That quote was taken during the offseason, Oates' agent making that claim despite Adam having 2 more years remaining on his contract.

"This isn't some Rust Belt hellhole or some Sun Belt frying pan. This is the capital of the United States. People from all over the country want to be here. If you don't, leave." - TK

All that talk was apparently contract bargaining, done with the current GM George McPhee, who was the one who hired Oates back as the coach in 2012.  Adam Oates eventually bargained his way to a 3 year re-structure at $3 Million per year according to the NY Times who called the offseason "2 months of BITTER negotiations".  (a raise from the 2.15 million 2 year deal he already had with the team)

Oates ended up playing for the Capitals for four more seasons scoring over 70 points in 3 of the 4 seasons.  He was one of the leaders of the team that made it to the Stanley Cup in 1998.  I guess all that good erases that one bitter summer for George McPhee.

And now McPhee welcomes Adam Oates back.  I wonder what his contract situation is...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Source:

Kornheiser, Tony. "Oates' Agent is on a Power Play".  Washington Post.  31 July 1997.  C01.  Print.

Adam Oates, He's A Maneater

All the latest talk coming into the Caps Basketball newsroom is telling us that the Capitals are going to hire Quaker Adam Oates to be the next coach of the Washington Capitals.  Adam Oates, You Make My Dreams Come True...




From what I know, Adam Oates was once a singer in the 80's but after a rough breakup with bandmate Hall concerning who's name came first in the band name, he decided to play hockey.

Oates became a player for the Boston Bruins in NHL 94' and he always scored a bunch of goals.  But how does that translate into coaching the defensive grind it out Dale Hunter style hockey?  Seems like the Polar opposite!  Not sure what Ted is thinking but My Private Eyes, They're Watching You, They See Your Every Move!



The Caps did well last season, but didn't really step up til the Playoffs.  And even then their Power Play and offense in general struggled.  Hopefully Adam Oates will be able to keep them playing rough hockey while getting back to their strength of scoring.  Another early exit in the playoffs?  I Can't Go For That, No, No Can Do!

So if the story is true then we better get ready.  Adam Oates is coming.  Oh-oh here he comes, watch out boys he'll chew you up.  Oh-oh here he comes, he's a maneater!

Let's Go Caps.  And F**K Hall!