from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe,

If the NHL, IOC, and IIHF don’t all get on the same page in the next few months, the 2022 Winter Games will be the second straight without NHL players. If so, both Bowman and Guerin likely will shift to support roles, with USA Hockey charged to shape a roster of amateurs and minor pros.

In part, the unresolved issues is why Bowman said Wednesday that naming a coaching staff is not imminent. The Yanks want to have a staff headed by an NHL coach, likely with NHL assistants, and none of those coaches would be available if the top pros aren’t going to Beijing.

The USA roster, with NHLers aboard, stands to be its best in history, with first-timers aboard such as Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, and Charlie McAvoy. Then the issue, reminded Guerin, becomes some elite players having to adjust to lesser roles, often with lesser ice time. All for the cause.

“There definitely has to be a buy-in factor,” he said. “The one tricky thing is, everyone that’s going to be on this team is going to be a star on their current NHL team. And you have to assume roles, and it’s our job and the coaches’ job to keep everyone happy and make sure there is great buy-in.”

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