Wild's Bill Guerin named GM of U.S. Olympic team

It had been quite some time since Stan Bowman was removed from the general manager position with the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team, but there had been no official replacement named. That is until now. Bill Guerin has been introduced as the new GM, with Chris Drury named an assistant. The two will work with John Vanbiesbrouck, assistant director of hockey operations at USA Hockey, to build out the roster.

Guerin was an assistant GM before Bowman’s scandal forced his removal from the program and was the obvious choice to take over the reins. He spoke with the media Tuesday and called it the “dream of a lifetime,” though his appointment does not guarantee that NHL players will decide to go to the tournament in Beijing next year. The Minnesota Wild GM told reporters including Michael Russo of The Athletic that he has been in touch with Jack Eichel’s agent to discuss the Vegas Golden Knights forward’s status in regard to the Winter Games.

Vanbiesbrouck meanwhile explained that if the NHL players decide not to go, the team will have to look at AHL, NCAA and international talent. His full focus currently is on the NHL, and as Nick Cotsoniko of NHL.com tweets, it appears as though USA Hockey is proceeding as if the NHL will participate.

Guerin of course has already been an Olympian, representing the U.S. on three occasions during his long playing career. He won a silver medal in 2002 at the Salt Lake City tournament. Drury too was a three-time Olympian during his playing days and has been USA Hockey’s choice for GM of the World Championship team in both 2019 and 2021.