The Pittsburgh Penguins will open up their training camp on Sunday, January 13, according to Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Rossi cites “league and Players‘ Association sources” for the information.
The league is targeting a start date of Saturday, January 19 for the official start of the season. Barring any drastic unforeseen events, that date will hold true and the Penguins will get a chance at redemption with the Philadelphia Flyers on that date.
If this schedule is finalized, teams will play a 48-game season. Many anticipate a trade deadline in late March or early April and a Stanley Cup Finals series that lasts until the end of June.
The league Governors will process their vote on the final CBA by Wednesday, while the players’ union is expected to finish voting by Saturday. Both sides are expected to agree to the deal.
In an interesting note, Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin hasn’t yet returned to the United States from his stint in Russia’s KHL. Some believe he is waiting for an official start date for the Penguins’ camp to open before coming back to the U.S., so if this start date is legitimate, Malkin should be back stateside very soon.
Malkin will open the season with James Neal on one wing and a yet-to-be-decided player on the other, according to head coach Dan Bylsma.
Who are the candidates to play on Malkin’s other wing? What should we expect from the Penguins in this shortened season? Find answers to those questions and more in my Five Things To Expect From the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2013 article.
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