Journalist Calls for Investigation Into Sketchy Oilers Hiring

A popular Hockey writer has highlighted a potential question that may arise in the Oilers most recent Front Office hire.

A well known Hockey personality has leveled a potential conflict of interest over Jeff Jackson, the newly appointed Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations, who had been hired by Edmonton from top Sports Management Agency Wasserman.

Jackson, Wasserman's founder and former Executive Vice President, was hired by the Oilers as their newest President of Hockey Operations. Under Jackson's leadership, Wasserman grew into one of Hockey's premier talent groups for managing some of the NHL's best.

Jeff Jackson was an agent for Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, now a top figure for the team. As well, Jackson was the agent for Connor Brown, who was signed by the Oilers to a one-year, $4M contract, likely negotiated by Jackson, while a member of Wasserman.

Hockey Writer Andrew Berkshire has questioned if there could be a possible investigation into Jackson's role in the negotiation for Brown, while Jackson himself was being courted to join the Oilers organization. Oilers special advisor Paul Coffey confirmed that talks with Jackson about joining the team's front office began at the NHL Draft, before Brown's signing on July 1st.

Talks between Coffey and Jackson were not confirmed to be formal talks between either side, although Berkshire highlights that Penguins GM Kyle Dubas was reportedly being looked into for his connection to Wasserman while negotiating with Pittsburgh, the same agency that represents Leafs star Auston Matthews, according to a report from Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff.

Connor Brown and Connor McDavid, formerly clients of Jackson, will now be managed by Jackson's former Wasserman colleagues Dave Gagner and Judd Moldaver respectively. Moldaver also represents Auston Matthews, and now McDavid as well.

Other former Agents who have joined NHL teams in recent years are current Canadiens GM Kent Hughes, who prior to his hiring was a player agent for Quartexx Management, and Émilie Castonguay, who left Momentum Hockey Agency to take a job as Assistant GM for the Vancouver Canucks.

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