Bill Guerin, Team USA, and the Long-Awaited Olympic Moment
MILAN - After months of scouting, planning, and assembling one of the most talent-rich rosters in recent U.S. hockey history, Bill Guerin is finally on the doorstep of seeing it all come to life. The general manager of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team has been grinding behind the scenes to build a squad capable of making a serious run at gold in Milan. Now, with the tournament just days away, the anticipation is hitting its peak.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Guerin said Saturday at the Starbucks Winter Lounge, a cozy, upscale space for U.S. hockey, figure skating, and speed skating athletes and families. “We’ve put a ton of work into it - management, USA Hockey, the players - we’ve been dying to get back to the Olympics. So, I’m really just excited to get down to business.”
That business starts in earnest on Sunday with the team’s first practice. The puck officially drops for Team USA on Feb. 12 against Latvia in Group C play, just one day after the tournament begins. Somewhere between now and then, the Americans will name a captain - and while Auston Matthews is widely expected to wear the "C," Guerin wasn’t tipping his hand just yet.
A Roster Built for a Run
On paper, this U.S. team is loaded. It’s a deep, balanced group built around elite NHL talent at every position. There’s no shortage of skill, but what makes this roster so intriguing is the blend of speed, toughness, and leadership - the kind of mix that doesn’t just look good in theory, but has the potential to translate into real chemistry on the ice.
“I’m very confident in the team,” Guerin said. “I believe in these guys.
We have a lot of different ingredients in our lineup, and now it’s just a matter of putting it together on the ice. Like, we can look at our roster and say, it’s great.
And we have a great team and that’s true, but we have to put it together on the ice. That’s the most important thing.”
He’s right. Talent alone doesn’t win medals - execution does. And with only a few days between arrival and the first game, there’s not much time to waste.
Familiar Faces, Familiar Bonds
One big plus for Team USA? Continuity.
Twenty-one of the 25 players on the Olympic roster were part of the squad that competed in the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off. That tournament served as a proving ground, not just for the talent, but for the relationships - and that familiarity could pay dividends in a short tournament like this one.
“A lot of these guys have played together in the past, when they were younger,” Guerin noted. “I think that’s what was so great about the Four Nations as well, is that these guys have all been teammates or for the most part have. So we just have to make sure that the chemistry is good and the camaraderie is good and go through this together.”
That sense of shared experience could be a major edge. In a tournament where teams have only a handful of practices before games begin, having pre-built chemistry - especially among key lines and defensive pairings - can be a game-changer.
The Arrival and the Countdown
A few players, including Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins), Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets), and Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars), arrived early to take part in the opening ceremony. But the bulk of the NHL contingent - 149 players across all countries - are flying in on red-eye charters Sunday morning. Once they land, it’s straight to their respective teams and onto the ice.
There’s not much time to settle in. The Americans will have just a couple of practices to fine-tune systems, establish line combinations, and get into game shape before the real action begins.
The Tkachuk Factor
Among the returners are the Tkachuk brothers - Brady and Matthew - who made headlines during the Four Nations tournament for their physical play, including separate fights with Sam Bennett and Brandon Hagel in a heated matchup against Canada. That kind of fire is part of what makes them so effective, but it’ll have to be reined in a bit in Milan. The International Ice Hockey Federation has strict no-fighting rules, and any violations could result in ejections or suspensions - something Team USA can’t afford.
“These are all big boys,” Guerin said. “They’re all professionals and they know what to do.”
Eyes on the Ice
So here we are. The roster’s set.
The players are en route. The practices are scheduled.
Now it’s about execution - about turning all that talent, preparation, and promise into something tangible.
Guerin and his staff have done their part. The next step belongs to the players.
And if they can bring it all together on the Olympic stage, this U.S. team has a real shot to make history.