Ohlund remains on long-term injured reserve because of his knee.

EDGE Analysis

His contract is on the Lightning's books until July 2016 at which time his $3.6 million cap hit disappears. Ohlund underwent radical reconstructive surgery to insert titanium to fill the space where cartilage once was. He has not played since 2011.

Mattias Ohlund (knees) has been placed on Tampa Bay's long-term injured reserve list. He carries a salary cap hit of $3.607 million and is signed for the next three seasons, but there has been plenty of talk that his career might be over. Ohlund, who had surgery on both of his knees, hasn't played since May 27, 2011.

According to Swedish newspaper Norrbottens-Kuriren, Mattias Ohlund is considering calling it a career. He said there is "no need to make any final decision" yet, but he hasn't played in two seasons and he may have to " ... realize that the conditions to play again becomes less and less." Ohlund hasn't played since May 27, 2011 due to injured knees.

Tampa Bay would still be on the hook for a $1.357 million cap hit through Mattias Ohlund's contract 2015-16 finish if he chose to retire this summer. According to capgeek.com, Ohlund's deal provided the Lightning with $4.071 million in "cap relief," which is the amount during the years he played in which his salary was greater than his cap hit. He admitted that his chances of "playing again are very minor" and he hasn't played since 2011. Ohlund cannot be bought out by Tampa because of his injured knees.

Mattias Ohlund (knee) still isn't close to being able to resume his NHL career. Ohlund hasn't played in an NHL game since May 27, 2011. He's signed through 2015-16, but at this point retirement seems likely for the 36-year-old. "I've thought about (the next step) quite a bit, but it clearly involves more people than me," Ohlund said. "I've spoke to Steve (Yzerman) quite a bit about what the end result will be. For a long period of time I've been trying to get better and better, but clearly the longer you don't play, the likelihood of playing again gets smaller and smaller each day, especially at my age. I don't know long term what my situation will be, but I'm sure it will be figured out shortly."

Mattias Ohlund hasn't laced up his skates since November 2011 because of his surgically-repaired knees and his career may be over. He said he is "not close to working out or even skating" and his recovery has not gone the way he hoped or expected. "Clearly I have to be realistic. I haven't played for a year and a half," he said. "Nobody has told me it's impossible to ever play again but, clearly, the longer it goes the chances of that are getting tougher and tougher. ... Clearly, you have to be realistic that the chances are not great." Ohlund is still owed $11.75 million on his contract that runs through 2015-16 and since he is injured he doesn't qualify to be bought out by the team. He's expected to talk with GM Steve Yzerman at some point this season about his future.

Mattias Ohlund continues rehabilitation on his surgically-repaired knee but is not even close to returning to the ice. The veteran defenseman had major knee surgery 10 months ago and at the age of 35 his NHL career is in doubt. We wish Ohlund the best of luck in his recovery. There is no guarantee we will ever see him in an NHL uniform again, however.

Mattias Ohlund (knee) is feeling better, but a return to the NHL is still a ways away. The 35-year-old defenseman had major knee surgery six months ago "in which a thin layer of titanium was used to resurface his femur at the patellofemoral joint behind his kneecap." He missed all of last season. Ohland says day-to-day activities are no longer a pain, but there's no timetable and no certainty that he'll ever be able to return. "Do I have a dream to still play hockey? Yeah, I do," Ohlund said. "I'm slowly getting better. But I don't know what the end result will be. ... Have I thought about not being able to play? Absolutely. But at this point my focus is to get better tomorrow and the next day. I can see improvements. I'm not sure where it will take me but I'm quite positive about how I feel compared to a couple of months ago."

Erik Erlendsson wasn't very optimistic about Mattias Ohlund's knee being strong enough for him to return to the Tampa Bay Lightning next season. Erlendsson responded to a question about his return by saying, "Wouldn't count on it and I don't think the Lightning are either." Ohlund missed all of the 2011-12 season with that knee problem. The Swedish blueliner has a whopping four years remaining on an albatross of a deal, so this might be a pattern during the next few off-seasons.

Mattias Ohlund isn't sure if he can bounce back from the major knee surgery he underwent in February. "I want to give myself another chance to play and I'm hoping that's going to happen, but who knows?" Ohlund said. He went arthroscopic surgery on his knees last summer before undergoing the more recent procedure. As a result, he didn't play at all in 2011-12. He'll turn 36 in September, but he's signed through the 2015-16 campaign.