"It appears the Maple Leafs will indeed play the Detroit Red Wings in next year's Winter Classic — a game the NHL hopes will break attendance records.

A source close to the talks confirmed a deal was just about done, after similar reports in Detroit newspapers.

It's been an open secret since the last Classic, between the Rangers and the Flyers, that the NHL wanted the Leafs to play the Wings next time.

The Michigan website Mlive.com reported Wednesday that the Wings had come to terms with the University of Michigan to use Michigan Stadium — a.k.a. The Big House — for the Jan. 1, 2013 game."