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Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin was named the general manager of the 2022 U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team Tuesday, as concerns mount that NHL players may not participate in the Beijing Games.
Guerin acknowledged the challenges that may keep NHL players from appearing in the 2022 Winter Olympics, a right they pushed to have in their 2020 collective bargaining negotiations with the owners.
“It’s been a crazy year. There are a lot of questions still out there. But our focus right now is to put together the best team that we possibly can and to compete for a gold medal,” Guerin said. “And with the deep player pool that we have in the United States, we think that’s capable.”
Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey, said the organization received an updated playbook from the Beijing Olympic Committee that details the latest COVID-19 protocols and quarantine rules if an athlete tests positive while participating in the Winter Games. Kelleher said discussions are ongoing with the NHL and NHL Players’ Association, as well as with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
“We’re certainly hopeful that all systems will be ‘go’ when it’s time to go to Beijing, but there’s a lot of work to be done, a lot of moving parts,” Kelleher said.
New York Rangers GM Chris Drury was named assistant general manager. He and Guerin were teammates on the 2002 and 2006 U.S. men’s Olympic teams. John Vanbiesbrouck, assistant executive director of hockey operations at USA Hockey, will work with them in a player personnel capacity. Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan will be behind the bench in Beijing — if the NHL participates.
The NHLPA is concerned about a number of coronavirus-related issues with the Olympics. Any player with a confirmed positive test must produce two negative tests that are 24 hours apart or the quarantine period can last from three to five weeks. Where that would take place, and whether a player could leave China rather than quarantining there, is among the issues the…
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Source : espn
