Capitals Coach Oates Tackles Next Learning Curve in A.H.L. HERSHEY, Pa. - Adam Oates took a break from his responsibilities as a co-coach of the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears this past weekend and flew to Toronto to be inducted Monday into the Hockey Hall of Fame. "Back Tuesday," Oates said Saturday night, smiling. Until N.H.L. owners and players reach agreement on a new labor contract, Oates, a former center who was a master at winning face-offs and distributing the puck to his linemates, says he plans to continue coaching in Hershey. This is not exactly why George McPhee hired Oates, 50, in June. McPhee is the general manager of the Washington Capitals, the Bears" parent team, and his intention was to bring on Oates to be the Capitals" coach. The lockout changed those plans, and McPhee said he thought that Oates, who was an N.H.L. assistant for three years (two years with the Devils and one year with the Tampa Bay Lightning), would benefit by sharing a job with Mark French, the Bears" coach. "There's stuff that seeps into your knowledge, and it's being involved in hockey," Oates said. You're making decisions you didn't make last year. You're growing. Later, he said: "There have been some frustrations, mostly because I don't know the personnel of this league. But that's coming fast, and really, that's not the goal. So it's been a good situation. French, who led the Bears to the Calder Cup in his first season as the coach in 2010, does not seem to have problems with the arrangement, and, to Oates's knowledge, neither do the Bears, a few of whom would be playing in Washington had there been no lockout. The Capitals" Alex Ovechkin is in Russia, but Braden Holtby, the 23-year-old goaltender who started 14 playoff games for the Capitals last year, is in Hershey. Holtby had a .945 save percentage in his first five games with Hershey. "It's not like our performances are going unnoticed," Holtby said. Everyone's still trying to prove himself, and it helps having him here every day. You can't take a day off because he'll notice and is making the big decisions. It will keep us all sharp. Hershey is hardly a backwater team. The Bears lead the A.H.L. in home attendance, with 8,726 coming to Giant Center - next to Hershey Park - on Saturday to watch the Bears" lackluster 2-1 loss to the St. John's IceCaps. Oates stood with French behind the Bears" bench, making line-change calls and giving pointers to his players. Calle Johansson, who was hired to be Oates's assistant in Washington, has also joined French and his assistant Troy Mann. French said the different personalities made it work. "There's not a specific area anyone really worries about," he said. It's a collaborative effort. As a group of four, we all learn from each other. I think our players have benefited from the situation, not only having Adam here, but Calle here as well. Most N.H.L. coaches have dropped in to watch their minor league teams during the lockout. Oates has not played for the Capitals since 2002, and he faced a learning curve: becoming familiar with his new players as he became a coach. It made sense for Oates to come to Hershey. He is staying in a hotel here. His family is in Washington, 130 miles south, and Oates says he has been "bouncing back and forth" to see his family and check in with the main office. French handled the postgame news conference Saturday night, grumbling about the team's less-than-robust energy and poor execution. Those issues would be addressed, but later. The players dressed and went home. Of Oates, Hershey forward Jon DiSalvatore said: "He's not going to scream and jump down your throat. He's going to talk to you, especially during the week. He takes a lot of time with the guys. DiSalvatore added: "He explains himself very clearly, and that's to the benefit of the guys who are trying to learn the game. He doesn't just give you one point and leave it there. He's going to sit down and work on it with you and give you time to develop. The Capitals playing in Hershey will benefit from Oates's being around, Holtby said, because they will be familiar with his system when, and if, the N.H.L. season begins. Oates will know the players in Hershey who can help out if needed in Washington. DiSalvatore, 31, has spent all but six games of his professional career in the minors. He is in his first year with the Bears after spending three years with the Houston Aeros. Maybe Oates will remember him when he coaches the Capitals. "Every day is an audition day, and every day is an opportunity to learn from one of the best players to play the game," DiSalvatore said. There's a lot of learning that's going on right now. It's quite an experience to be able to learn from him. Asked if he was trying to make the best of a glum lockout situation, Oates said: "I think we all are. I'm sure if George thought something was being majorly sacrificed, he'd stop it, but I don't think Mark feels that way. Oates laughed as he said, "Hopefully, the players don't."