These agents know how to get a good deal for their clients.
These agents know how to get a good deal for their clients.
Most fans know the impact that general managers and coaches have on hockey. General managers construct the teams by executing trades and signing players. Coaches great systems and dictate line combinations that are best designed to give the team success.
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The unsung heroes behind the scenes are the player agents. They negotiate deals on behalf of their clients, to secure the best deal for each player's needs. Let's look at the top five agents in total value of active contracts and if they have any Edmonton Oilers players on their roster.
5. Daniel Milstein
Active Contracts: 55
Total Value of Active Contracts: $486,506,667
Daniel Milstein is one of two player agents with Gold Star Sports Management Group - he's also founder and CEO of the company. The majority of his clients are Russians. His two highest earning clients are Tampa Bay Lightning players, Nikita Kucherov & Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Evander Kane and Matvei Petrov are the only Oilers presently represented by him. Kane changed his representation in May of 2018, when he signed a seven-year $7-million cap hit contract with the San Jose Sharks.
4. Gerry Johannson
Active Contracts: 49
Total Value of Active Contracts: $544,334,003
Carter Savoie, Max Wanner and Brett Kulak are all represented by Gerry Johannson. Johannson is President and CEO of The Sports Corporation. The Sports Corporation was established in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1985.
The highest earning player on his roster is Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, with the next highest active player being Brayden Point of the Lightning.
3. J.P. Barry
Active Contracts: 71
Total Value of Active Contracts: $709,884,175
J.P Barry is one of two main partners at CAA Sports. His top earning clients are David Pastrnak and Matthew Barzal. He also has the most clients signed of any other agent in the business. He represents two present Oilers in Cody Ceci and Stuart Skinner.
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2. Pat Brisson
Active Contracts: 62
Total Value of Active Contracts: $1,176,291,632
Only one of two player agents to have the sum of their clients' contracts equal over $1-billion is the other partner at CAA, Pat Brisson. Brisson has three players who make over $10-million per year - Nathan MacKinnon, John Tavares and Anze Kopitar. The only Oiler on his client list is a goaltending prospect who just recently signed an extension, Olivier Rodrigue.
1. Craig Oster
Active Contracts: 70
Total Value of Active Contracts: $1,188,279,958
Newport Sports Management has the most NHL contracts and the highest total value of active contracts with over $2-billion. Half of that is due to Craig Oster. He has signed the deals to Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and many others. He has the second most clients to only J.P. Barry. Surprisingly, he is the only agent on this list to not have any Oilers clients.
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