The general manager of the Wild appeared before reporters for the first time since he helped Team USA at the winter Olympics in Italy.
It's now been just over a week since the men's hockey team won the Olympic gold medal, and the controversy surrounding comments by President Trump continues to linger. After their victory, a video that circulated on social media appeared to show Trump inviting the team on a phone call in the locker room, as he joked that he’d also have to invite the women’s team. After the president announced the women soon would receive a White House visit, the men's players made thumbs-up gestures while watching from up high.
Wild General Manager Bill Guerin, who was also the GM for the Americans, says the comments weren't surprising but won't tarnish the team's achievement.
"Nothing's going to ruin this," Guerin says. "I don't care what people say or what they think. Those kids are, that's one hell of a team. Those kids are all great people, good family men, and Nothing that anybody could ever say would make me change my mind. I don't care."
Wild players Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes, and Brock Faber were all on Team USA's first Olympic gold medal win since 1980.
Guerin also isn't holding his players back from the hoopla surrounding the gold medal victory in the Olympics either. The Wild's Quinn Hughes and his brother Jack traded in their skates for the small screen over the weekend, appearing in the opening monologue on NBC's Saturday Night Live. They appeared along with women gold medalists Megan Kellar and Hilary Knight. Quinn got a bit of a burn from Knight.
"The last time the men did that was 46 years ago," said Hughes.
"The last time we did that was two whole Olympics ago," Knight shot back.
Despite the NHL season being back in full swing, with the Wild playing games Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Guerin was supportive of Quinn Hughes taking their one off day to head to New York.
"This might be a once in a lifetime thing," Guerin explained. "You get to do Saturday Night Live, go. You get to do all these other things, do it. You know what, you might be a little tired for today's game and the next game. I get it, I get it, I get it. But do it, yeah. And enjoy it because you know you can you can rest after."
Boldy, who scored in Team USA's Olympic final win over Canada, has scored three goals since the Wild resumed their schedule last week.