Wayne Gretzky says he'll lead Team Canada in its run for hockey gold at the next Olympics, but only if NHL players are on the roster.

Gretzky made the announcement Wednesday, confirming he intends to be back as the team's executive director for the Turin Olympiad in 2006.

But Gretzky conceded that, should the NHL resume play before then, it may be hard to convince owners to shutter the league for more than two weeks, so their best players can chase the Olympic dream.

"We think it's important not only for people in Canada but for the National Hockey League. In saying that, the tough part now is that we're in a different situation than we were in 2002," Gretzky told reporters during a Hockey Canada conference call fropm Baltimore.

"We just missed one full season and I know there's probably some concerns from owners, probably more in the United States, in the sense of getting started again and trying to build that enthusiasm for the National Hockey League again and then having to shut down for 17 days."

As defending champion, Canada will defend its title during Olympic competition next February.

Gretzky helped choose the winning Team Canada rosters at the 2002 winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and again at the 2004 NHL World Cup.

Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe will be bak as Gretzky's right-hand man. Vancouver Canucks assistant GM Steve Tambellini and Canadian national team head coach Marc Habscheid will also be part of Gretzky's executive team.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Pat Quinn is also expected back, as are Jacques Martin of the Florida Panthers, and Ken Hitchcock and Wayne Fleming of the Philadelphia Flyers.

In the event NHL players aren't part of the team, Habscheid will assume the coaching duties from Quinn.

"I, too, hope that the NHL players will be allowed to go to Torino because that means I'll be going and I'm really excited and thrilled to be included in our quest of another gold medal," Quinn said Wednesday.

Until the lineup is decided, Hockey Canada is preparing for two scenarios.

In one, 34 NHL stars would be invited to an orientation camp in B.C. in August. In the other, 31 non-NHL stars are attending a camp in Edmonton this week.