Ian Pulver
CBA Insider Advocate

$435M

Key Facts

Agency / company: The Will Sports Group
Role / title: Founder / NHLPA Certified Agent
Agency website: https://willsportsgroup.com/
X: https://x.com/ianpulver
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/ian-pulver-a2271037
Primary markets: NHL, NHL Draft, first-round picks, CBA strategy, arbitration, contract negotiation, player development, European placement

About Ian Pulver

Ian Craig Pulver is the founder of The Will Sports Group and an NHLPA Certified Agent. He holds a BA in Sociology from Western University and an LLB from the University of British Columbia, and founded Pulver Sports Inc. in September 2006 before it evolved into The Will Sports Group.

Before becoming an agent, Pulver spent 15 years as a labor attorney with the NHLPA. His background includes the negotiation, drafting, and enforcement of the 1992, 1994, and 2004 NHL Collective Bargaining Agreements, plus extensive work on contract negotiations, salary arbitration, grievances, settlements, and player relations.

Pulver is with 36 active NHL contracts, about $435M in active contract value, and about $78M in active cap hit. His current book is led by Tyler Seguin, Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Chabot, K’Andre Miller, Carter Verhaeghe, Marco Rossi, Barclay Goodrow, Matias Maccelli, and a strong group of prospects and entry-level clients.

Key Facts

• NHLPA certification: NHLPA Certified Agent

• Active NHL contracts represented: 36

• Total active contract value: $435M

• Total active cap hit / AAV represented: $78M

• Average active cap hit: $2,15M

• Largest active contract: Tyler Seguin – $78.8M total, $9.85M AAV

• Most notable clients: Tyler Seguin, Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Chabot, K’Andre Miller, Carter Verhaeghe, Marco Rossi

• Primary client type: NHL stars, defensemen, first-round prospects, CBA/arbitration-sensitive clients

  Client Roster

1. Tyler Seguin (Dallas Stars) – C – Canada – $9.85M AAV – $78.8M total – expires 2026-27

2. Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars) – D – Finland – $8.45M AAV – $67.6M total – expires 2028-29

3. Thomas Chabot (Ottawa Senators) – D – Canada – $8M AAV – $64M total – expires 2027-28

4. K’Andre Miller (Carolina Hurricanes) – D – USA – $7.5M AAV – $60M total – expires 2032-33

5. Carter Verhaeghe (Florida Panthers) – F – Canada – $7M AAV – $56M total – expires 2032-33

6. Marco Rossi (Vancouver Canucks) – C – Austria – $5M AAV – $15M total – expires 2027-28

7. Barclay Goodrow (San Jose Sharks) – C/RW – Canada – $3.642M AAV – $21.85M total – expires 2026-27

8. Matias Maccelli (Toronto Maple Leafs) – LW – Finland – $3.425M AAV – $10.275M total – expires 2025-26

9. Jeremy Davies (Vegas Golden Knights) – D – Canada – $1.15M AAV – $2.3M total – expires 2026-27

10. Kurtis MacDermid (Ottawa Senators) – D/LW – Canada – $1.15M AAV – $3.45M total – expires 2026-27

11. Sacha Boisvert (Chicago Blackhawks) – C – Canada – $966,667 AAV – ELC – expires 2027-28

12. Chase Wutzke (Minnesota Wild) – G – Canada – $962,500 AAV – ELC – expires 2028-29

13. Beckett Sennecke (Anaheim Ducks) – RW – Canada – $942,500 AAV – ELC – expires 2027-28

14. Ben Danford (Toronto Maple Leafs) – D – Canada – $899,889 AAV – ELC – expires 2028-29

15. Marco Kasper (Detroit Red Wings) – C – Austria – $886,666 AAV – ELC – expires 2026-27

Notable Deals

• 2018/2019 – Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars: 8 years, $78.8M, $9.85M AAV.

• 2021/2022 – Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars: 8 years, $67.6M, $8.45M AAV.

• 2020 – Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators: 8 years, $64M, $8M AAV.

• 2025 – K’Andre Miller, Carolina Hurricanes: traded from the Rangers and signed 8 years, $60M, $7.5M AAV.

• 2025 – Carter Verhaeghe, Florida Panthers: 8 years, $56M, $7M AAV.

• 2025 – Marco Rossi: 3 years, $15M, $5M AAV, with Vancouver.

Milestones

• 1990-2006: Worked at the NHLPA, including labor, arbitration, grievance, CBA, and player-relations matters.

• 2006: Founded Pulver Sports Inc., which later became The Will Sports Group.

• 2013: Sports Agent Blog interviewed Pulver about his move from the NHLPA into player representation.

• 2024: WSG says it secured four first-round picks in the NHL Entry Draft.

Partner Network

• John Walters: Ontario / USA consultant.

• Brett Valliquette: Ontario / USA consultant.

• Adam Panacci: Ontario / USA consultant.

• Jonathan Lachance: Quebec / USA consultant.

• Mika Backman and Juha Ylonen: WSG Finland co-founders.

• Tomas Orr: Canada West consultant.

• Danny Tolensky: Counsel emeritus.

• Global network: Ontario, Quebec, Midwest USA, Northeast USA, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Russia.

Testimonials / Media Characterization

• WSG says Pulver has been recognized multiple times by The Hockey News as one of hockey’s most influential figures.

• Sports Agent Blog framed Pulver as an NHL player agent and co-founder of The Will Sports Group with deep NHLPA labor experience.

• WSG says its model emphasizes informed, educated, and empowered player decision-making.

Press, Awards & Recognition

• The Hockey News: WSG says Pulver has been recognized multiple times as one of hockey’s most influential figures.

• 2013 – Sports Agent Blog: Published a “Six Questions” interview with Pulver.