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Hockey Agent Prefers That His Clients Choose The NHL Over The KHL

Igor Larionov is now an agent representing professional hockey players.
Igor Larionov is now an agent representing professional hockey players.
Igor Larionov is now an agent representing professional hockey players.

Last week I focused the discussion on an agent’s fiduciary duties to his/her clients in the Sport Agency Management course I teach at Indiana University.  Part of that discussion highlighted the fact that an agent must put his/her interests behind those of the clients, and sometimes, that means forfeiting potential commissions based on a client’s preference.  Not all clients care about squeezing every last cent out of a team and signing with the team that offers the most money.  Believe it or not, other factors such as location, proximity to family, ownership of a home, taxes and other considerations may come into play when a player is deciding on where to play.  The quality of competition may also be a determining factor.  Agents must always keep such items in mind when negotiating players’ contracts.

NHL and KHL agent Igor Larionov appears to understand his role as a fiduciary for his clients.  In an interview with the Winnipeg Sun, Larionov stated, “They know there’s the KHL, there’s the money, but some of the guys are willing to come and pay the price and play here. You have to know inside-out what the player is up to, what his goals are. It’s a lot of questions before you make up your mind.”

The article focused on what is perceived to be a growing problem in hockey: Russian players migrating back to their homeland due to increasing payouts provided by the Russian-based teams in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).  A concern is that NHL general managers may respond by staying away from talented Russian players due to an overwhelming fear that said stars may come to the United States for a brief stay, only to return to Russia for the bulk of their careers.

In his brief tenure as an agent, Larionov notices that GMs are starting to grow weary of taking a chance on Russian players.  But Larionov says that he still prefers that his clients play in the NHL over the KHL.  “I care about the career of the young players,” said Larionov.  “I want to give them a chance to make it here. It’s never going to be easy, but it’s worth it.”  When Larionov says “here,” he means the U.S.  If other agents follow Larionov’s thinking, then perhaps NHL GMs will preserve faith in the Russian hockey player.  But for now, it appears that they are using some caution.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.