The NHLPA "warned" IMG's Mike Barnett by letter that he
"could face decertification" as an agent if he "does not
make his intentions clear" about a possible GM position with
the Coyotes, according to David Shoalts of the Toronto GLOBE
& MAIL. The Barnett "dispute could get nasty enough to land
in court. In a recent meeting between IMG and the NHLPA, a
source said IMG basically told the union it wasn't afraid to
go to litigation." Shoalts writes that NHLPA Exec Dir Bob
Goodenow "is willing to fight hard because if Barnett
becomes a part of NHL management, it will deal a blow to all
players negotiating contracts." Shoalts: "For just as a
double agent provides top-secret information about his
former country to another country, so too will Barnett." An
NHL source: "Just imagine if you are a client of Barnett's
who is headed for unrestricted free agency. How would you
like to look up next summer and see that not only is your
former agent now a GM, but that he and every other GM in the
league know exactly how you plan to negotiate a new
contract?" The NHLPA wants better guidelines for agents who
are part of large sports marketing agencies, and recently
sent letters to IMG, SFX and Octagon. To "fight this trend"
of agencies being in "bed with the people who are paying
their clients," the NHLPA "is looking at changing some rules
in its certification process." Shoalts reports that it is
"expected that a new rule will call for an agent to declare
his intention to work for management, followed by a
moratorium on doing work for either his former clients or
his NHL team" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/17).
