Lightning's Cooper to coach Canada in Beijing if NHL takes part

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper will guide Team Canada during the 2022 Beijing Olympics if the NHL participates, Hockey Canada announced Monday.

Fellow NHL bench bosses Bruce Cassidy, Peter DeBoer, and Barry Trotz would be Cooper's assistants.

St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong will assemble the Canadian roster, as the nation's governing body of hockey confirmed in February. Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland - who'll be Canada's associate GM - will aid him, along with fellow NHL GMs Ron Francis of the Seattle Kraken and Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins.

Roberto Luongo, who served as Canada's GM at this year's World Championship, will also be part of the Olympic management group, along with longtime Hockey Canada executive Scott Salmond.

Cooper led the Lightning to a second consecutive Stanley Cup championship last month.

It remains unclear whether the NHL will take part in next year's event. The league included a February 2022 Olympic break in its 2021-22 schedule, but that's contingent upon participation.

NHL players didn't go to the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. Canada won bronze that year with a roster composed of non-NHL players.

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