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The league is considering whether to allow its players to participate after 2010. Players are adamant about their desire to play. Owners are not happy about the sacrifice of profit and the risk to their players. Some poor King Solomon is going to have to split this baby, and no matter how you slice it, it's not going to be pretty.

The issue has been percolating for a while. It came up at the Olympic Media Summit in Chicago in September, when Team USA officials -- among them Coach Ron Wilson and GM Brian Burke -- met with reporters.

"I think this is going to be the greatest hockey tournament in the history of the world, and that's not hyperbole," said Dave Ogrean, the executive director of USA Hockey. "The reason is this: three gold medal games with the NHL players, six...