Guerin: Worlds 'important' for players who want U.S. Olympic spot

Bill Guerin has a clear message for those vying for spots on the American roster for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off and Olympic teams: Play in the World Championship.

"I think it's important for guys to go," Guerin, the United States' general manager for both the 4 Nations Face-Off and Olympics, told The Athletic's Michael Russo. "Hey look, there's some guys that are going to be a lock for both teams. But there are going to be guys that are on the bubble. If they haven't played in the playoffs or meaningful games in a long time - or ever - I want to see how they perform.

"So, in that respect, I think the World Championships are extremely important."

The World Championship is held in May, so it's only available to players whose NHL teams miss the playoffs or are knocked out early. But after the grind of a long season, players can choose to begin their offseason rather than play more hockey.

"I want to see commitment, and if a trip to the Caribbean is more important than the World Championships, then you're not really committed," Guerin, who also serves as GM of the Minnesota Wild, said. "Our player pool is pretty substantial now. I'm not going to say, black and white, 'If you do this, then yes. If you do this, then no.' But we're trying to put the best team on the ice that we possibly can. But we also want guys that are committed.

"I get there are situations, like guys are getting married, guys are having babies, guys are injured. I get that. But if you're not?"

Florida Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson will serve as GM for the United States squad at the 2024 World Championship, which takes place in Czechia. It's a tournament the U.S. has historically struggled in despite its depth of talent. The nation hasn't finished better than third since winning gold at the 1960 Winter Olympics, which doubled as the World Championship.

The 4 Nations Face-Off is a new NHL-sanctioned event that will feature the best players from Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland in a four-team tournament in February 2025. The 2026 Olympics, meanwhile, will be the first Winter Games the NHL has partaken in since 2014.

The U.S. hasn't won a best-on-best tournament since the 1996 World Cup. Canada was victorious in each of the last three, winning at the 2016 World Cup, the 2014 Olympics, and the 2010 Olympics.