O2K Sports Management
Relationship-First Advocates

US

$287M

Key Facts

Also known as: O2K Worldwide Management Group, O2K Sports, O2K Management
Founded: 2004; O2K says lifelong friends Matthew Oates and Eustace King started the agency together.
Headquarters: No single headquarters publicly listed; public agency listing does not specify a base.
Other offices: O2K lists offices/coverage in Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Calgary, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, and Nisswa, Minnesota.
Agency type: Mid-size hockey agency
Ownership: Independent private agency; leadership includes Matthew Oates and Eustace King, with senior representation staff across North America.
Primary markets: NHL, AHL, NCAA, OHL/CHL, USHL, Europe, player development, family advisory and brand/commercial support.
Players (Total value: approx. $287M in active NHL contract value): 180+ total clients; NHL clients: 56.

Key agents (names): Ben Newhouse, Dave Cowan, Olivier Labelle, Dean Grillo, Eustace King, Matthew Federico, Matthew Oates, Stephen Reich, Will Dahlquist.
Languages: English; French/Canadian market support through Montreal and Quebec-based staff; broader European support through O2K’s international placement work.
Contact email: info@o2ksports.com.
Phone / WhatsApp: +1 952-582-5230.
Website: https://www.o2kmanagement.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/o2ksports/
X: https://x.com/O2KSports
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/o2ksports

About O2K Sports Management

O2K Sports Management is a North American hockey agency founded in 2004 by Matthew Oates and Eustace King, who describe the agency as having grown from a relationship built through hockey since childhood. The firm has expanded into a multi-office hockey group with agents and advisors in the United States and Canada, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Calgary, Boston, Montreal and Toronto. O2K’s current public roster is broad, with 183 total clients and 56 NHL clients, making it larger than a boutique agency but still built around named agent-client relationships.

The agency’s NHL book includes Jared Spurgeon, Vincent Trocheck, Matthew Knies, William Borgen, Ryan Hartman, Zach Whitecloud, Brayden McNabb, Michael Rasmussen, Jason Zucker, Ryan Poehling, Olen Zellweger and Jake Neighbours. O2K’s service model covers contract negotiation, arbitration preparation, marketing, tax/financial planning, development planning, scouting, family advising, and post-career transition.

Its recent deal history shows a balanced mix of veteran security, RFA extensions and young-player planning, including Matthew Knies’ six-year Maple Leafs extension, William Borgen’s five-year Rangers extension, and Michael Rasmussen’s four-year Detroit extension. The agency is also visible in player-development and advisory lanes, with current and recent young clients such as Olen Zellweger, Akil Thomas, Denver Barkey, Quentin Musty and other NHL-drafted prospects.

O2K’s differentiator is its combination of larger-agency reach with individual-agent service, especially through former player, scout and executive backgrounds on staff. The agency also places emphasis on accountability and direct communication, a theme echoed in client testimonials from Jared Spurgeon, Blake Coleman and Mikhail Grabovski.

Client Roster

Contract figures below use public PuckPedia records where available; European salary details are generally not publicly disclosed.

Top players / NHL players

• Jared Spurgeon (Minnesota Wild) – D – Canada – 1989-11-29 – NHL contract: 7 years, $53.025M total, $7.575M AAV, expires 2027.

• Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers) – F – USA – 1993-07-11 – NHL contract: 7 years, $39.375M total, $5.625M AAV, expires 2029.

• Matthew Knies (Toronto Maple Leafs) – F – USA – 2002-10-17 – NHL contract: 6 years, $46.5M total, $7.75M AAV, expires 2032.

• William Borgen (New York Rangers) – D – USA – 1996-12-19 – NHL contract: 5 years, $20.5M total, $4.1M AAV, expires 2030.

• Ryan Hartman (Minnesota Wild) – F – USA – 1994-09-20 – NHL contract: 3 years, $12M total, $4M AAV, expires 2027.

• Zach Whitecloud (Vegas Golden Knights) – D – Canada – 1996-11-28 – NHL contract: 6 years, $16.5M total, $2.75M AAV, expires 2028.

• Brayden McNabb (Vegas Golden Knights) – D – Canada – 1991-01-21 – NHL contract: 3 years, $10.95M total, $3.65M AAV, expires 2028.

• Michael Rasmussen (Detroit Red Wings) – F – Canada – 1999-04-17 – NHL contract: 4 years, $12.8M total, $3.2M AAV, expires 2028.

• Jason Zucker (Buffalo Sabres) – F – USA – 1992-01-16 – NHL contract: 2 years, $9.5M total, $4.75M AAV, expires 2027.

• Ryan Poehling (Anaheim Ducks) – F – USA – 1999-01-03 – NHL contract: 2 years, $3.8M total, $1.9M AAV through 2025-26; future extension: 4 years, $15M total, $3.75M AAV.

• Olen Zellweger (Anaheim Ducks) – D – Canada – 2003-09-10 – NHL ELC: 3 years, $2.75M maximum value, expires 2026.

• Jake Neighbours (St. Louis Blues) – F – Canada – 2002-03-29 – NHL contract: 2 years, $7.5M total, $3.75M AAV, expires 2027.

• Juuso Välimäki (Chicago Wolves) – D – Finland – 1998-10-06 – current public listing shows 2025-26 Chicago Wolves; NHL contract table lists a 2-year, $4M deal.

• Akil Thomas (Springfield Thunderbirds, AHL) – F – Canada – 2000-01-02 – NHL/AHL contract details public by assignment; current public listing shows 2025-26 Springfield.

• Ryan Poehling (Anaheim Ducks) – F – USA – 1999-01-03 – current public listing shows 2025-26 Anaheim; future extension noted above.

Prospects & young talents

• Olen Zellweger (Anaheim Ducks) – D – Canada – 2003-09-10 – NHL ELC; puck-moving NHL defense prospect.

• Denver Barkey (Philadelphia Flyers system / London Knights, OHL) – F – Canada – 2005-04-27 – drafted prospect; CHL development track.

• Quentin Musty (San Jose Sharks system) – F – USA – 2005-07-06 – first-round pick, OHL/NHL development track.

• Dalibor Dvorsky (St. Louis Blues system) – F – Slovakia – 2005-06-15 – first-round pick, AHL/NHL development track.

• Akil Thomas (Springfield Thunderbirds, AHL) – F – Canada – 2000-01-02 – drafted forward, AHL/NHL call-up profile.

• Cutter Gauthier (Anaheim Ducks) – F – USA – 2004-01-19 – NCAA-to-NHL forward; current public agency status should be verified at publication.

• Lucas Mercuri (Carolina Hurricanes system) – F – Canada – 2002-03-06 – NCAA-to-pro development profile.

• Hunter Brzustewicz (Calgary Flames system) – D – USA – 2004-11-29 – OHL/AHL development track.

Goalies

• David Rittich (New York Islanders) – G – Czechia – 1992-08-19 – NHL contract: 1 year, $1M, expires 2026.

• Colten Ellis (St. Louis Blues system) – G – Canada – 2000-10-05 – NHL/AHL contract details public by assignment.

• Tyler Parsons – G – USA – 1997-09-18 – current active status should be verified before publication.

Women’s hockey clients

• No public women’s hockey roster verified.

Coaches/Staff represented

• No public coaching/staff representation verified.

Notable former clients

• T.J. Oshie – listed with last public playing season 2024-25; treated as inactive/retired under the current profile rule.

• Wayne Simmonds – listed with last public playing season 2022-23; treated as inactive/retired.

• Tyler Ennis – listed with last public playing season 2023-24; treated as inactive/retired.

• Chris Thorburn – former O2K client and retired NHL forward.

• Mikhail Grabovski – former O2K client and retired NHL forward.

Highlights

• Negotiation style: relationship-first, multi-agent, long-term planning model.

• NHLPA/CBA expertise: RFA extensions, UFA signings, arbitration preparation, two-way structures, ELC planning and trade-deadline advising.

• Network strengths: NHL front offices, NCAA programs, OHL/CHL, U.S. development, Canadian major junior and European placements.

• Development pipeline: O2K markets scouting, development advice and family advisory as core services.

• Cross-border execution: U.S.-Canada player movement, Quebec/French-Canadian support, Calgary/Western Canada coverage and Europe-facing placement.

• Brand/commercial capability: endorsements, media relations, philanthropy and post-career support are listed among agency services.

Agency Snapshot

Origin story

• Matthew Oates and Eustace King founded O2K in 2004 after a friendship and hockey relationship that began in childhood.

• O2K grew from a two-founder agency into a multi-office North American representation group.

• The agency’s staff now includes former players, scouts, executives, recruiters and certified NHLPA agents.

Milestones

• 2004 – O2K founded by Matthew Oates and Eustace King.

• 2020 – Jared Spurgeon’s seven-year, $53.025M Minnesota extension became a cornerstone O2K defense deal.

• 2022 – Vincent Trocheck signed a seven-year, $39.375M contract with the New York Rangers.

• 2024 – Michael Rasmussen signed a four-year, $12.8M Detroit extension.

• 2025 – William Borgen signed a five-year, $20.5M Rangers extension.

• 2025 – Matthew Knies signed a six-year, $46.5M Toronto extension.

• 2025 – Ryan Poehling signed a four-year Anaheim extension beginning after his current deal.

Network strengths

• North America: NHL, AHL, NCAA, OHL/CHL, USHL, USA Hockey and Canadian major junior.

• Europe: international placement support and European league pathways.

• Specialty lanes: defensemen, U.S. college development, power forwards, late bloomers, family advisory and post-career planning.

Support Team / Partners

• Contract/cap specialist: Matthew Oates, Eustace King, Dave Cowan, Ben Newhouse, Matthew Federico and Dean Grillo.

• Player development and scouting support: O2K’s agent/advisor network, including former player and scouting backgrounds.

• Quebec/French-Canadian market support: Olivier Labelle and Montreal office coverage.

• Marketing/brand partnerships: handled through O2K’s listed marketing and endorsement services.

• PR/media/community support: O2K lists media relations, charitable work and philanthropy among client services.

• Financial/tax/estate partners: O2K lists financial planning, tax planning and estate planning as services, but individual partner firms are not publicly named.

• Legal/immigration counsel: not publicly named.

Notable Deals Led by O2K Sports Management

• 2025 – Matthew Knies: Toronto Maple Leafs – RFA extension – 6 years – $46.5M – $7.75M AAV.

• 2025 – William Borgen: New York Rangers – extension – 5 years – $20.5M – $4.1M AAV.

• 2025 – Jason Zucker: Buffalo Sabres – extension – 2 years – $9.5M – $4.75M AAV.

• 2025 – Ryan Poehling: Anaheim Ducks – extension – 4 years – $15M – $3.75M AAV.

• 2024 – Michael Rasmussen: Detroit Red Wings – extension – 4 years – $12.8M – $3.2M AAV.

• 2024 – Brayden McNabb: Vegas Golden Knights – veteran extension – 3 years – $10.95M – $3.65M AAV.

• 2024 – Jake Neighbours: St. Louis Blues – RFA extension – 2 years – $7.5M – $3.75M AAV.

• 2022 – Vincent Trocheck: New York Rangers – UFA signing – 7 years – $39.375M – $5.625M AAV.

• 2020 – Jared Spurgeon: Minnesota Wild – extension – 7 years – $53.025M – $7.575M AAV.

Track Record (Last 3 Seasons)

• NHL contracts signed: 43 active NHL contracts listed under O2K Worldwide Management Group.

• Total value signed (USD): approx. $287.84M active NHL contract value.

• Total AAV represented (USD): approx. $79.30M active NHL cap hit.

• Extensions/renewals: Knies, Borgen, Zucker, Poehling, Rasmussen, McNabb, Neighbours and others.

• ELCs signed: Olen Zellweger, prospects and drafted clients across NHL/AHL pipelines.

• RFA outcomes: Knies long-term, Borgen long-term, Rasmussen medium-term, Neighbours bridge-style, Poehling future medium-term.

• Arbitration cases: O2K lists arbitration preparation as a service, but no recent public heard arbitration award was identified.

• Europe transfers: public count not fully available.

• Aggregate client market value: approx. $287.84M active NHL contract value from public PuckPedia records.

Compliance & Accreditation

• NHLPA certification status: O2K says its staff includes certified and licensed agents; public PuckPedia contract records list O2K agents Ben Newhouse, Dave Cowan, Eustace King, Matthew Federico, Matthew Oates, Dean Grillo and others.

• National federation registrations: not publicly verified.

• Professional liability insurance: not publicly stated.

• Ethics/compliance notes: no verified public disciplinary issues found in the sources reviewed.

Testimonials

• Jared Spurgeon said O2K has helped his “family and I feel comfortable with every decision.”

• Blake Coleman said O2K treated him “like family.”

• Mikhail Grabovski said O2K was “always there” for him and his family.

• Chris Thorburn said O2K helped him with “every aspect” of his career.

Press, Awards & Recognition

• 2004 – O2K founded by Matthew Oates and Eustace King.

• 2024 – Michael Rasmussen signed a four-year, $12.8M extension with Detroit.

• 2025 – Matthew Knies signed a six-year, $46.5M extension with Toronto.

• 2025 – William Borgen signed a five-year, $20.5M extension with the New York Rangers.

• 2025 – Ryan Poehling signed a four-year extension with Anaheim.