Devils keeping close eye on Elias' rehab from knee surgery

A decision on Patrik Elias' tenure with the New Jersey Devils likely won't come until closer to training camp.

The veteran forward is back in the Czech Republic recovering from knee surgery, and while Devils general manager Ray Shero says he's been in contact with Allan Walsh - Elias' agent - it is yet to be determined whether the unrestricted free agent will return to the team.

"Once he starts getting the green light to start ramping up his training off ice, we'll see where that takes him and certainly when he gets back on ice, if it's going to be later in the summer, we'll see where that goes," Shero told Chris Ryan of NJ.com. "And his body will tell him or his knee will tell him how he feels, and we'll be in constant communication with Patrik."

Earlier this offseason, Walsh stated Elias "desperately" wants to play one more season.

Elias was drafted 51st overall by the Devils in 1994 and sits 43 games behind Ken Daneyko for the team's games-played record.

The 40-year-old, who was limited to 16 games this past season due to injury, is the franchise leader in goals (408), assists (617) and total points (1,025).

After acquiring Taylor Hall and re-signing Kyle Palmieri, the Devils still have over $13 million in available cap space, and his stable presence would be invaluable for a club looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.