Agent Scott Norton on NHLPA Meeting w/ Donald Fehr

As reported yesterday afternoon, new NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr was in town to meet with a small group of agents.

We heard Fehr's thought on the discussions in an exclusive interview here.

Below, Scott Norton (Norton Sports Management), who reps the Kings' Dustin Brown, provides detailed commentary on the overall meeting, the major issue debated and even weighs in on the Dustin Brown trade rumors that have been popping up again.

MM: The bulk of the morning was spent on Donald Fehr updating the group on his background and experience. Given his very public role as the head of the Major League Baseball PA for over 30 years, did you learned anything new?

SN: I think, just new in terms of not knowing that much about his background. You know what you read and about the public persona. But, some of the in-depth and some of the way we're filling out the rest of the NHLPA board and the people they're bringing in, their experiences that will help move things forward with the CBA.

MM: How will the new NHLPA be different than what it has been over recently?

SN: I think it's going to be more solidified. I think Donald's going to be a great leader. I think people know from what we've gone through the past few years - hopefully some of the people aren't going to have their own agendas, that they've had in the past. I think the players are solidified and it's nice they get to take it backseat and watch the NFL and NBA go through what they're going to be going through.

MM: Knowing that you were going to be attending the meetings, did any of your players have specific questions they asked you to raise?

Exclusive Interview w/ NHLPA Head Donald Fehr

Negotiations on a new labor agreement are already underway in the NFL, with the NBA not far behind.

And right around the corner will be the NHL, as the current deal has one season remaining.

NHL players weren't happy with their previous leadership and ousted Paul Kelly from the Player's Association in rather controversial fashion back in August 2009.

After courting Donald Fehr, the former head of the Major League Baseball Players Association for several months, he finally agreed to come on board in December as Executive Director of the NHLPA.

Recently he's been touring North America hosting almost town-hall like meetings with player agents and the last stop was today in Los Angeles - where the agents for LA Kings' forwards Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown participated.

Below is part of an exclusive conversation I had Fehr immediately following today's activities...

MM:  I would assume most of the meetings held in various cities have had a similar overall tone and message.  Was there anything unique about the sessions today?

DF:  Well, the purpose of today was for me to meet the agents, to see them in a small group and get to the point where I could get to know some of them...and ask some questions and hear what's on their mind. Their concerns (today) are, in most respects, similar to what the agents voiced at the other meetings. There are always some particular things that come up because of individual clients though.

MM:  One person I spoke with earlier today noted they were impressed with how you've made such an effort to get to know the guys who have played just 20 games in the league as much as you have the big names like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.  Is that by design or is that just part of your make-up as a person?

Future Fridays - Interview with Justin Sefton

Labor Day is upon us. Along with a three day weekend and the end of summer, it also signifies the return of hockey.  Junior teams throughout Canada - and a few northwest U.S. cities - began opening their training camps over the last few days.

As the Sudbury Wolves took to the ice for the first time yesterday, many eyes were on defenseman Justin Sefton. The fifth overall selection from the 2009 OHL Draft is one of the top prospects for next summer's NHL Draft.

For the past few years he says he's kept himself away from "going to parties and hanging out in bad places. It was the rink, home, homework, working out, eating well - all the little things it takes to reach my dream."

Before joining the Wolves, he had moved away from his Thunder Bay home to attend Notre Dame prep school, located in a small town outside of Regina. The highly regarded institution - with an alumni of players such as Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards and Rod Brind’Amour - had been carefully chosen after exhausting research.

Like most young players, he consults with his parents on such major decisions.  However, he doesn't hide the fact that his agent plays a major role as well.  And why shouldn't he, he's represented by Kyle Dubas of Uptown Sports - a firm with a client list featuring some of the best young talent in hockey - including Kings prospects Jonathan Bernier, Kyle Clifford and Andrew Campbell.

DRAFT2010: Interview with agent Kyle Dubas

Question: What do Kings prospects Jonathan Bernier, Kyle Clifford and Andrew Campbell all have in common?

Besides being drafted by Dean Lombardi!

Answer: They're all represented by Uptown Sports Management, Inc...and one of their primary points of contact is agent Kyle Dubas.

There is so much more to the draft than just the players being selected. Sure, you have the stories about the scouts that have followed them. You also have GM's trying to forecast the short and long term needs of their teams. However, often one of the untold stories is that of that guy that is privately linked to the draftee...his agent.

And it's not just contract negotiations that a player uses his agent for anymore. For example, Uptown also has the ability to assist their players with individual marketing, financial planning, professional development, tax preparation...all the way up to post-career counseling.

Not exactly what you get when watching Jerry Maguire, huh?

In the interview below, The Mayor talks with Kyle about his background, a few of the players he has in this year's draft, dealing with kids wanting to play pro hockey, their parents, Kings prospects, junior hockey vs. college hockey, former Ducks coach Craig Hartsburg and some other stuff you'll like.