Option 2

Management and representation in professional sports is a huge aspect that is often overlooked. Luckily it isn't as crazy in the hockey world as it is in say soccer, where transfer negotiations seem to be more about how pays the highest provisions and fees to various agents than the actual interests of the players and the clubs involved in the transfer. So much money is siphoned off the system their by almost parasitical structures, it's crazy. But of course if you want good representation, you still need to pay for it and as long as an agent is actually having my best interests in mind, it is money well spent. I try to rely on a rather classical setup, one player agent who is mostly there to help me in contract negotiations and to sort out sponsorship deals, who also has an adress book full of contacts who can help with all kinds of needs if they arise, from getting seats in a restaurant to organizing a reliable shop to get my car fixed or good places to buy a suit or to quickly pick up some flowers for the family at home.