Report: Adam Oates Could Join San Jose Sharks
Apr 1, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals head coach Adam Oates watches from behind the bench against the Dallas Stars in the second period at Verizon Center. The Stars won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Another potential assistant coaching candidate has emerged for the San Jose Sharks to join Peter DeBoer’s staff.
According to Darren Dreger of TSN on their Insider Trading segment earlier this week, Adam Oates, former head coach of the Washington Capitals, may join DeBoer’s staff in San Jose.
Darren Dreger on Insider Trading: Adam Oates will not return to New Jersey and has informed Ray Shero. He may join Pete DeBoer in San Jose.
— Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell) June 9, 2015
Now, this makes more sense from a Sharks perspective. As we posted about in May, Oates was one of the candidates general manager Doug Wilson interviewed about the head coaching vacancy. Who knows if Wilson knew at that point that DeBoer would be his choice and if he spoke with Oates about an assistant position?
Regardless, Oates, who failed as a head coach with the Capitals, has had successful stints with the New Jersey Devils and Tampa Bay Lightning as an assistant. It seems to suit him better than the overall task of creating a gameplan and running the team.
Another potential name that has been floated out there in connection with DeBoer’s staff is Dave Barr. Barr was with DeBoer in New Jersey and could be a good match with Oates and DeBoer. Oates’ main coaching acumen appears to be centered on the power play, and he should have plenty of weapons to work with in San Jose if he’s indeed the choice.
Meanwhile, Barr’s experience leans more towards the defensive end and the penalty kill, and his task would be much more difficult as the Sharks’ penalty kill ranked 25th in the league a season ago.
While nothing has been decided, it appears that DeBoer is zeroing in on some of his assistants.