"I am disappointed. He changed the game of ice hockey," said Ed Hospodar, who played under Shero with the Rangers, then later went to the Flyers. "He was cutting edge, wanted to learn about how the Russians did things."
Shero's Flyers were the first team from outside the original six to win a Stanley Cup.
Sakic had 625 goals and 1,016 assists in a 20-year career, all with the Quebec/Colorado franchise. He won two Stanley Cups (1996, 2001), earning the Conn Smythe Tropy in 1996 and the Hart Trophy in 2001.
Sundin, also selected in his first year of eligibility, had 564 goals and 785 assists in his 18 seasons - including 13 with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Oates, hired as coach of the Capitals earlier in the day, is sixth on the NHL career assists list with 1,079 and also scored 341 goals in 19 seasons with seven teams.
"Obviously a fantastic day. I don't know if that's happened before," Oates said. "Maybe I should play the lottery. It's just a special, special day for us."
Oates, who retired in 2004, played 14 games for the Flyers at the end of the 2001-02 season.
Bure, a six-time all-star and Calder Trophy winner as the league's rookie of the year with Vancouver in 1992, had 437 goals and 342 points in 12 seasons with the Canucks, Florida and the Rangers.
- Staff and wire reports
