Top NHL prospect John Tavares has a new, albeit familiar agent in his corner: his mom.
In a move that's sure to draw comparisons to former NHL star Eric Lindros, whose mother Bonnie was vilified when she and husband Carl advised both the Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and NHL's Quebec Nordiques that Eric wouldn't report to play with either team, Tavares has severed ties to NHL player agent Bryan Deasley and his former employer, London, Ont.-based law firm, Siskinds LLP.
Tavares is the early favourite to be the first pick in the NHL's amateur draft in 2009. His 72 goals for the Oshawa Generals a year ago broke the OHL record for 16-year-olds, set by Wayne Gretzky in 1978, and his 134 points were second only to Patrick Kane, the Chicago Blackhawks' No. 1 pick in last June's draft.
This season, Tavares had 40 goals and 78 assists in 59 games.
Tavares's mother, Barbara, worked for years in the banking sector, and said she'll be handling things for her son for the immediate future.
"We're looking in a new direction," Barbara Tavares said. "I worked in a number of different departments in the banking system. I have pretty good experience in that area and when you run your own business (she and husband Joe run a business in the steel industry), you do whatever's necessary."
Deasley's firing is the talk of the NHL agent business. Most players pay their agents 2 to 6 per cent of their on-ice earnings and an even larger stake of revenue from endorsements and other off-ice pursuits.
Losing Tavares could cost Deasley millions of dollars over the course of Tavares's career.
Deasley declined to comment yesterday.
If Tavares becomes an NHL star, it would mean a payoff of at least $100,000 (all figures U.S.) a year for his agent, several prominent NHL agents have said.
Some rival agents in recent months had taken jabs at Deasley, arguing he had an improper advantage landing Tavares because he hired Tavares's former minor-league coach, Jamie Naylor, as a financial adviser for his players. Naylor, who coached Tavares for three years, also works for a Toronto investment company.
Barbara Tavares said the family doesn't need an agent at this time because, "right now, there's nothing to handle.
" We're really not in much of a rush."
The family has already finalized an endorsement contract with Reebok, which has not yet been announced, and a separate memorabilia contract.
Rick Westhead is the Sports Business Columnist for the Toronto Star
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