USA taps David Poile, Dan Bylsma for Olympic roles

Kevin Allen | USA TODAY Sports

USA Hockey is putting the band back together for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, although the members will have a different place on the stage.

According to two people with knowledge of the decision, the Nashville Predators' David Poile will be the team's general manager, while Pittsburgh Penguins Ray Shero will be his associate general manager and Anaheim Ducks consultant Brian Burke will be the director of player development.

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma has been selected to be the USA's coach in Sochi.

The two people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the official announcement will come Saturday in New York, the day before the NHL draft in Newark.

Burke was the general manager of the U.S. team when it won the silver medal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, and Poile was his associate general manager. Shero was on the committee of team executives who helped Burke pick the team.

It was not an easy decision for the Americans to decide who was in charge. Traditionally, the Americans like to change up their leadership pool to give more people the opportunity to gain Olympic experience. But they also liked the job Burke did in Vancouver.

When Burke was fired as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it further complicated the decision because there is a perception, not a rule, that the American GM should be an NHL general manager.

The decision to include Burke in the ruling triumvirate could be viewed as a compromise, or USA Hockey's attempt to have the best of all worlds.

The Americans believed that the committee approach used by Burke in 2010 is a model that should be used again. That means that general managers such as Dale Tallon (Florida Panthers), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia Flyers) and Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles Kings) will continue to play a role, plus Pittsburgh scout Don Waddell, a former league general manager.

USA Hockey senior director of hockey operations Jim Johannson also will have his usual involvement in the player selection process.

The league is meeting on Monday with international officials to work out the final details that would allow the NHL players to participate in the Olympics for a fifth time.

Bylsma was chosen over Philadelphia's Peter Laviolette and the Vancouver Canucks' John Tortorella. Laviolette had coached in 2006, and it was assumed that USA Hockey would give either Tortorella or Bylsma a chance.

Usually, the Americans appreciate international experience, and it appeared that Tortorella had an edge over Bylsma because he had previously been involved at the world championships and Olympics. Both Bylsma and Tortorella are Stanley Cup winners.

But Tortorella damaged his public image this season with hostile news conferences while with the New York Rangers and a cursing incident during an NBC interview. It had to make him a less attractive candidate. One reason why the NHL allows it players and coaches to go the Olympics is to help grow the game. Tortorella's behavior this season didn't help him.