With the lockout continuing to eat away at the 2012-2013 NHL season, the biggest guaranteed night of the NHL’s schedule is the Induction ceremony at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Throughout this weekend I will be doing a series of articles outlining each of the Inductees career and the intangibles that make them Hall of Fame worthy.
The second guy on the list to talk about would be Adam Oates.
Oates was an assist machine during his playing career. In the end he had 1,079 assists which ranks him 5th all time. If you look at his total point totals he had 1,420, ranking 13th in all-time scoring. His vision was Gretzkyesque. I remember when he was dealt to the Oilers near the end of his career, the wingers were fighting over who gets to play on a line with him. He did what every great player does, make the team around him better.
This all had to do with his mindset, right from the beginning of his hockey career. He was taught to enjoy setting up a goal more than scoring it himself. Through his time in St. Louis, Boston, and Washington specifically, that really came into play. It was a perfect fit for him with the Blues, being lined up as Brett Hull’s centre man. A pure passer with a pure goal scorer. Between 1989-1991, Oates helped Hull reach 158 goals during that two season span. The 86 goals that Hull scored in the 90-91 season was the 3rd highest in NHL history. When he was dealt to Boston after a contract dispute, Oates production did not subside. In fact, it went up by having his best statistical year with 142 points, 97 of them assists. This is despite the fact that he did not have the same star studded linemates he did in St. Louis. During the time period of 1989 to 1994, Oates was the 2nd highest point producer in the league… behind number 99.
The time in Washington was his closest to winning the Stanley Cup. Playing with the likes of Joey Juneau and Peter Bondra, he helped take the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998. The Capitals would ultimately get swept by the Detroit Red Wings, but the contributions of those 3 plus Olaf Kolzig will never be forgotten to Capitals fans. After Washington, Oates became somewhat of a journeyman to end his career. He had stops in Philadelphia, Anaheim, and finally Edmonton before he retired in 2003.
Oates is one of those players who you can’t say changed the game, unlike others who are in the Hall of Fame. The closest thing for that was that he was part of a group of 7 or 8 players that the Detroit Red Wings signed out of the college system for NHL money. This was the first time the US college system was really considered to be a legitimate source of possible NHL talent. What I can say about Oates is despite the fact that he didn’t change the game, he fit perfectly in it. Thus this is why the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee deemed him Hall worthy.
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On Sunday: The Hockey Hall of Fame Legends game will take place at the Air Canada Centre, game time at 2pm. It is Team Gilmour vs. Team Trottier and the 4 inductees (Sakic, Sundin, Oates, and Bure) will be participating in the game
Prior to the game from 11:30-12:30, the 4 Inductees will also be doing a Q&A session with the fans about the careers at the Hockey Hall of Fame, seats are first come first serve. You also get half off admission to the Hall if you show your Legends Game ticket.
For more information about what is going on at the hall you can check here:
“Induction Festivities”
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