Oates, Carey Biggest Names in Big Deal

The Boston Bruins finally pulled off the Adam Oates trade, only it was bigger than anyone anticipated.

“We had to find a situation where a team was looking for now and was prepared to give up some of its future,” Bruin General Manager Harry Sinden said Saturday night after trading the disgruntled center along with goaltender Bill Ranford and forward Rick Tocchet to the Washington Capitals in a six-player deal.

In exchange, the Bruins received goaltender Jim Carey, centers Jason Allison and Anson Carter, a 1997 third-round draft choice and a 1998 second-round draft choice if the Capitals re-sign Tocchet, who is an unrestricted free agent when his contract expires in May.

The deal is the biggest in the NHL since the Philadelphia Flyers acquired Eric Lindros from the Quebec Nordiques in 1992 for six players, two draft picks and $15 million.

Oates had been stripped of his alternate captaincy by Assistant General Manager Mike O’Connell during the recent firestorm involving his trade demands.

Oates, the three-time finalist for the NHL’s sportsmanship award, upset management when he criticized the front office for being more concerned about its bottom line than winning.

In response to Oates’ comments, O’Connell accused the demoted star of lacking faith in his teammates. Still, O’Connell conceded that “there was some truth in what he said.”

Oates, 34, has been the Bruins’ leading scorer in every year since coming to Boston from St. Louis in 1992. This season, he leads the Bruins with 50 assists and 68 points. He has had four 100-point seasons, two with the Bruins.

The Bruins traded the present for the future, acquiring one of the league’s top young goalies and two of the Capitals’ top prospects. Carey, 23, was sensational in his first full season in Washington last year, recording a team-record nine shutouts.

The 23-year-old Carter is a center who played four years at Michigan State. Allison is 21 with limited NHL experience.

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Jimmy Carson, a former King, signed with the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League to try to resurrect his career.

Carson, 28, quit hockey last season after playing 13 games for Lausanne, scoring three goals with four assists. He went to Switzerland after playing just 11 games for the Hartford Whalers last season, scoring just one goal.