Deputy Commissioner: NHL season to open Jan. 19

As was expected, the NHL season will open Jan. 19, the league confirmed in an email to the Orange County Register.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the schedule may not be released until this weekend.

The league is waiting for the new collective bargaining agreement, which was reached Sunday morning, to be ratified by the owners and the NHL Players Association. The NHLPA's vote may not be completed until Friday while the board of governors will vote Wednesday.

The league is expected to announce a 48-game schedule, according to Canada's The Sports Network, with all games played within each conference.

Daly also said all training camps are expected to open Sunday.