The trend of NHL agency consolidation is examined by
the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts, as "several agents
have sold themselves and their client lists to companies."
While some argue that "corporations can offer much more to
the players than a mom-and-pop operation," other agents
working outside of the corporate model point out that
"lucrative endorsement opportunities still apply only to a
relative few superstars." All an average player can "expect
to get is lost in the shuffle" when represented by a
corporate agent. One agent who "runs his own shop" said,
"The primary reality of all these sales is that they are
nothing more than a direct benefit to the people who are
selling." Octagon agent Brian Lawton said that "not every
client will reap" the full benefits of the company model,
but added that the company offers "far more benefits to
players." Lawton also said that "loyalties to long-time
clients whose careers are in decline or never reached the
NHL will not survive." Players are "reluctant to discuss
among themselves their relationship" with their agents, so
the recent sales of smaller agencies to larger ones "have
not been a hot topic." Lawton said that a majority of NHL
players realize they are not going to "cash in" on large
endorsement deals. Lawton added, "Most guys are just happy
when we get them anything, most hockey players don't get
these things. It's just the marquee guys and players know
that" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/24).
