Nolan Not Ready for a Comeback

Owen Nolan has ruled out returning to NHL this season because of a right knee injury.

The 33-year-old unrestricted free agent with 349 career goals last played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2003-04. He had surgery last year.

“My knee is still not at the stage where I could be cleared to play,” Nolan said Thursday. “I was looking forward to signing and making an impact in the playoffs, but I am simply not as far along as I had hoped.

“It would not be fair to the teams that expressed an interest in my services if I could not give them 100% of my abilities. Overall, I am probably in the best shape I have been in years. I look forward to getting my rehab finalized over the next few months and signing with a team this summer.”