Its been quite a day for former Boston Bruin and Washington Capitals captain Adam Oates. First he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame and now he was named the newest head coach was the Washington Capitals.

Oates has been an assistant coach for the past three seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning and more recently, the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Devils.

"We are very pleased to name Adam Oates as the new head coach of the Washington Capitals," said Capitals vice president and general manager George McPhee, "Adam was a highly intelligent player in the NHL for 19 seasons. He has been an assistant coach in our conference for the past three seasons and is prepared to lead our club as head coach."

Oates spent his 19 year career with the Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks, and Edmonton Oilers. He scored 341 goals and 1079 assists and only Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, and Mario Lemieux recorded more assists than Oates.