Player Prompt:

One of the first things people tell you to do when you becoming a professional athlete is to sign an agent. I completely understand why that would be your first move and why it's smart to have one. However, I never signed one for myself and chose to handle my own affairs. I wanted to be hands on for everything that involved me so I could vet every opportunity coming my way and have no excuses it something went wrong.

For contracts, I'm always straight up with my GM and I expected the same. No shady business in the fine print, no fancy clauses except for one specific no-trade demand. I never wanted hockey to become a complicated business. I'm going to get my money, why squeeze for every penny and why complicate the contract when it's not needed. As for outside ventures, I'm happy to work them out on my own and be able to see who I'm going to be working with. Agents are super helpful, but in my case I just wanted to do things my way.

(180 words)