Owen Nolan of the Toronto Maple Leafs has cartilage deterioration related to a bone bruise suffered in March of 2004.
Although Nolan is booked for surgery on Tuesday, he will first undergo a full medical examination in Cleveland on Monday.
"Doctors will then decide if he needs surgery or another form of medical intervention," Nolan's agent J.P. Barry told TSN Thursday.
There appears to be some dispute over when Nolan's injury was suffered, with Leafs GM John Ferguson Jr. telling a Toronto radio station that he'll need to gather more information before a decision can be made on Nolan's status.
"It's disappointing to Owen that it has taken this long to identify a problem he has been having over the last six or seven months," Barry told the Toronto Star on Thursday.
Nolan's initial buyout cost was expected to be two-thirds of his $5.627-million salary for this season, or approximately $3.8-million. If it is determined that Nolan's injury occurred before the lockout, he would want to receive his full salary from the 2004-2005 season ($6.5-million). When combined with his full salary for this season, the Leafs could be on the hook for approximately $12-million if they wish to buy out Nolan.