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Warning: I'm just talking hockey today.

Well, having been burned a few times already by seemingly certain reports that the NHL lockout was over, I'm taking a cautious approach to the news that a deal between the league and the players' union to end this stupid thing is imminent.

Sure, you take it with a big bag of rock salt when the news comes from Larry Brooks (registration required) or the comically optimistic Eklund. But columnists Damien Cox in the Toronto Star and Mike Ulmer of the Toronto Sun both wrote Tuesday of the light at the end of the Zamboni tunnel. Bob McKenzie of TSN warned Monday of factions within the player ranks that could still scuttle the deal. But all are saying a deal could come within a matter of weeks or even days. Although I do find it interesting that the reporters for the Canadian publications chose not to write anything about these latest "developments." Maybe they figure it's not news until something actually happens.

So should a deal be struck in June, what will the NHL be returning to? For one, the fans that care the most about hockey are probably the ones that are the most bitter about the lockout. Forget about the casual fans who have migrated to the NBA, poker, or the Scripps-Howard Spelling Bee. The real fans are the ones who have taken it on the chin here. And though they may talk tough now, I bet the majority of them will return to the game when it finally does return. Supposedly the league plans to roll out a bunch of rule changes and gimmicks designed to improve the game and win the fans back. I'd like to see more offense, but not at the expense of the integrity of the game. The bottom line is, both sides need to get back on the ice and out of the boardroom. Because the longer the NHL is gone, the less it's missed.

One sign that hockey may be back soon: Buccigross wrote a new column. Surprise, surprise, he's lobbying for Cam Neely to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Of course, I wholeheartedly agree with him. Neely combined finesse and ferocity in a package that was awesome to behold.

The Toronto Star has a nice feature on one of hockey's great mysteries: the death of Bill Barilko. If you're Canadian and over 30, you probably know the tale by heart. Barilko scored the Cup-winning OT goal for the Leafs in 1951 to defeat Montreal, immortalized in a classic photo that shows Barilko falling to the ice as his shot sails over goalie Gerry McNeil's outstretched blocker. In the offseason, Barilko went on a fishing trip and was never seen again. He and his pilot remained missing until 1962, when searchers found the wreckage of his plane. Canuck rockers The Tragically Hip wrote a song about the crash 30 years later, stoking the interest of a new generation of fans. The new story tells of a group that was the first to revisit the crash site in 43 years. The reason for the crash remains unknown, although many rumors abounded for years, including one involving smuggling gold from a nearby mine. Some things are just destined to go unanswered.