Less than two months ago, while filming a segment for ESPN's NHLRules! telecast, Mario Lemieux said he wasn't planning a comeback.

The truth is, he was planning a comeback. Or at least thinking about it.

Although he might not have been skating rigorously, Lemieux had been working out. And it showed.

Hall of Fame returnees

Two other NHL Hall of Famers have returned after staying out of the game for at least two years -- Gordie Howe and Guy Lafleur. Howe retired at the age of 43 in 1971 after 25 seasons. He returned in 1973 with the Houston Aeros of the WHA and played in 499 more games over the next seven years. His best seasons: 34 goals in 1974-75 and 1977-78. He had 102 points in 1975-76. Lefleur, the legendary Montreal Canadien, returned in 1988 (he had retired after the 1985 season) and played three more years. His biggest year was 18 goals; he scored 12 in his final season. -- ESPN.com

Lemieux looked great on the ice: big, fit and with soft hands. Although no one checked him, and he didn't go full speed the entire hour, it was clear to everyone that Lemieux still had big-time skills.

Put it this way, Jagr, the man considered the most talented offensive player in today's game, didn't stand out. Not that day, and probably not even when this fantastic -- in the literal sense -- story becomes reality.

Once the local media got wind of Lemieux's skate, they flooded the arena. Lemieux was often asked: "Do you miss the game and would you ever come back and play again?"

Like the streamlined politician he's become as a team owner, Lemieux replied: "Yes, I do miss it. It's a game I've been playing since I was 3 years old, so to all of a sudden wake up and not be there, you miss it a little bit. But I have other things in my life that I'm doing."

Lemieux ackowledged, quite frankly, that if the recent rules crackdowns were in place a few years ago, he might never have left the game.

"I think it's great for the game. It really allows the top players to go on the ice and display their talents to the fullest," he said. "And that's what we should be doing."

The irony of it all is that Lemieux had already begun working out in earnest before the late-October taping. He just didn't tip his cap on what really was going on in his mind. But, certainly from reviewing his remarks, he didn't exactly rule out anything. He simply said he had other things going on.

Nice dodge.

Further throwing us off his scent, was Lemieux admitting -- that day -- he literally had to dig his skates out of the closet for that afternoon skatearound.

Perhaps, he had so much fun playing shinny with Jagr and being out there on the ice that the seed of a comeback was sowed that day. Perhaps he'd planned it all along.

But for an afternoon in suburban Pittsburgh, Lemieux was back on the ice. Now, it might be for real.