Last month, two-time Stanley Cup champion Scott Gomez retired after 16 season in the NHL. On Friday, Gomez hosted an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit and I need to share with you one of his responses.
Gomez was asked by user @Benchworm who his favorite coach was and why. In his answer, Gomez called Adam Oates the “best coach ever.” This was Gomez’s totally real, not made-up, not joking response.
Favorite coach: Larry Robinson.
Best coach ever: Adam Oates. Hands down. He’s hockey’s Bill Belichick. One of the only coaches I’ve seen where, whether you were on the first or fourth line, every day he would try to make you better. That never happens.
Also an unreal coach: Slava Fetisov. Unreal knowledge of the game.
I would like to repeat, Scott Gomez called Adam Oates hockey’s Bill Belichick.
Belichick is one of the greatest football coaches (and cheaters) of all time, winning four championships with the New England Patriots.
Meanwhile, Adam Oates, who coached the Capitals to 65-48-17 record during two seasons in Washington, gave the team a really good power play. He also did some bad things too.
- Oates was the man behind one of the worst PK’s in recent hockey history.
- Oates nearly ruined 2015-16 Vezina Trophy-winner Braden Holtby.
- Oates’ goaltending philosophy caused long-time goalie coach Dave Prior to leave the organization.
- Oates made many players change their stick lengths or curves to the point where many felt uncomfortable while playing.
- Oates once skated Alex Ovechkin, one of the greatest players of all time, with Jay Beagle and Joey Crabb.
Let that last bullet sink in for a minute.
There’s a lot more Oates did poorly and Peter did a great job of summarizing it two years ago.
Gomez played under Adam Oates during the 2014-15 season while the Hall of Famer was the Devils’ “Co-Head Coach” along with Scott Stevens. The Devils finished under .500 and missed the playoffs for the third straight season that year.
So yeah, that was a thing that happened today.
Thanks to Mike Hogan and @awolfe48 for sending us a link.
Photo: Chris Gordon.
