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NHL players may not participate in the Beijing Games as concerns mount that they may not be able to.
NHL players may not be allowed to compete in the Winter Olympics in 2022, a right they pushed for in their 2020 collective bargaining negotiations with the owners.
It has been a crazy year. There are a lot of unanswered questions. The focus right now is to put together the best team and compete for a gold medal. We think that the deep player pool in the United States is capable.
The Beijing Olympic Committee gave an updated version of their rules for athletes who test positive during the Winter Games, according to the executive director of USA Hockey. The NHL and NHL Players' Association as well as the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee are being discussed.
When it's time to go to Beijing, there's a lot of work to be done, but we're hopeful that all systems will go.
The New York Rangers have an assistant general manager. They were teammates on the 2002 and 2006 U.S. men's Olympic teams. USA Hockey will have John Vanbiesbrouck working with them in a player personnel capacity. If the NHL participates, Sullivan will be behind the bench in Beijing.
There are a number of issues with the Olympics that the NHLPA is concerned about. A player with a confirmed positive test must have two negative tests in 24 hours or the period can last from three to five weeks. The NHLPA is waiting for clarity on a number of issues, including where that would take place and whether a player could leave China rather than quarantining there.
The NHL will not pay players for games or practices they miss after the Olympics. The International Ice Hockey Federation has a $5 million fund to help players.
Robin Lehner, a goalie for the Vegas Golden Knights, pulled out of the Olympics due to medical and mental health concerns.
There is a chance that U.S. players could do the same, but there hasn't been much talk about it.
"Our job is to make them feel comfortable," he said. The last thing we want to do is put someone in harm's way.
USA Hockey's Plan B would include players from the American Hockey League, NCAA players and U.S.-born players competing in European leagues.
It's been a crazy year. There are a lot of unanswered questions. Our focus right now is to put together the best team that we can and compete for a gold medal. The new general manager of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team is Bill Guerin.
55 NHL players are under consideration for Team USA roster spots. Jack Eichel could be one of them.
The artificial disk replacement surgery took place last month. His recovery time could allow him to play in the Olympics, where he would be the team's second center behind Auston Matthews.
"I've been in touch with Jack's agent, but the details on those conversations I have to keep between him and I," said Guerin, who wouldn't rule out Eichel playing for Team USA in Beijing.
There were a lot of controversies surrounding the path to the Team USA job. He was brought on by Stan Bowman, who stepped down as general manager hours after he "stepped aside" as president of hockey operations. The decision was made after an investigation into how the Chicago Blackhawks handled sexual assault allegations against a former video coach.
There were some unfortunate situations along the way. Stan and I are still in touch. Stan is a friend. He was doing a great job and I was proud to be on his staff. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and we are here today.
We have a job to do. We have to stay steadfast on that. We have to focus on hockey.
There was a controversy stemming from his days as an assistant general manager. In November 2020, a lawsuit was filed against the Penguins by a former assistant coach, who claimed that a former coach sexually abused his wife. Skalde said that Guerin told him to keep quiet about the situation when he was told about it.
In November of 2021, a law firm representing Skalde announced plans to file a lawsuit against several individuals. The Skaldes announced that the legal matter has come to satisfactory conclusion for all parties involved.
The situation led to a gap between the two, as Team USA named a general manager. The investigation into the actions of Guerin has not been completed by SafeSport.
There have been some ups and downs, but today is a very happy day. "It's the chance of a lifetime," he said.
