An interview with John Kofi Osei-Tutu, Esq., President & NHLPA Player Agent of The OT Sports Group, LLC
According to Newsday, John Kofi Osei-Tutu, ’11, is "one of the fastest-rising power brokers in the hockey world. He's an NHL-certified player agent with a roster of clients that includes 10 NHL players whose combined contracts are worth more than $100 million." He also happens to be one of only two Black agents with clients who play in the NHL.
In a recent interview with ËÄÉ«AV, Osei-Tutu described not only his experiences, but his hopes for the future.
Please describe your journey to becoming an agent.
I was a hockey player my entire life. My goal was to play in the NHL. Health complications abruptly cut my playing career short at 19 years old. I enrolled at ËÄÉ«AV and, while pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, I coached various youth hockey teams and provided private skill development lessons for some of the top young players on and around Long Island. After graduating from ËÄÉ«AV, I prepared for the LSAT and applied to law school. I continued coaching throughout my time at Fordham Law School. After graduating, I accepted a position as business and securities litigation associate at a Wall Street-based law firm.
I knew grinding away as a law firm associate, trying to make partner, wasn't what I wanted to do long term. Thus, in January 2016, I started The OT Sports Group, LLC with a friend and coaching colleague. I worked as a lawyer in various law firms while building my company for ten years, aiming to convert my "side hustle" into my full-time career.
Today, ten years later, my company has over $100,000,000.00 under management and I achieved my goal of getting out of the law firm world.
What do you love about being an agent?
I love helping young athletes accomplish their goals. I also enjoy the competitive side of the business. I often go head-to-head with some of the biggest agents in the business. To me, winning a recruiting battle feels just as rewarding as winning big games as a player or a coach.Negotiating contracts is also rewarding. The negotiations can be high pressure and sometimes have significant money at stake but there is nothing more rewarding than closing a deal at a salary number that is higher than market expectations.
How does your background/experience as a lawyer influence you as an agent?
Being a practicing attorney with experience in high-stakes regulatory investigations and securities litigation certainly distinguishes me from most of my competitors who are either former players or haven't ever worked outside the sport. The skills I learned in law school and my law practice have been instrumental in my ability to interpret and work within the confines of the collective bargaining agreement. Negotiating contracts for NHL players is not dissimilar to negotiating settlements with opposing counsel in litigation. It is not necessary to go to law school or practice law to be a good agent, but it certainly helps.
How did your time at ËÄÉ«AV help shape you into the professional you have become?
I was fortunate to learn from brilliant people and professors at ËÄÉ«AV. I came to law school fully prepared to succeed. Being at a smaller school and having access to professors was very valuable to me. For example, I couldn't tell you how many hours I spent in Dr. John Eterno's office during my time at ËÄÉ«AV. I also appreciated the internship experience I gained at places like the Nassau County District Attorney's Office and the value I derived from extracurricular activities like the Mock Trial Club.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a Black professional in this industry?
I am one of only two Black agents in the National Hockey League. The sport is overwhelmingly White. I have felt, at times, there has been a rebuttable presumption that I am less qualified or less knowledgeable about the game than others. In times like that, I've used being underestimated to my advantage.
What are your hopes for the future?
On the short term, I hope to negotiate the highest paid salary in the NHL. I also aspire to scale my company into the billions of dollars-under-management level. At some point, I am interested in following the paths of Bill Zito and Kent Hughes who, after becoming top agents, became general managers of NHL teams. Bill Zito won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025.
