NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs at New Jersey Devils

The Devils continue to monitor Patrik Elias through his knee rehab before a decision is made to re-sign him for another season.

(Ed Mulholland-USA Today Sports)

While the Devils have settled several offseason questions about free agency, one big one still looms, and it most likely won't be answered any time soon.

Patrik Elias remains unsigned by the Devils after becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and any deal going forward will depend on his rehab the rest of the summer.

"He's back in Czech Republic now, and it's basically where we have left it," Devils general manager Ray Shero said. "I talked to his agent just a couple days ago, and he's just going to monitor how he's doing."

Elias had knee surgery May 11, and the team did not provide a time table for his return, saying it would monitor his rehab.

Elias also reportedly wants 'desperately' to return to the Devils, and only the Devils, for one more season, depending on his health.

"He had to have the operation at the end of the season no matter what," Shero said. "If he was going to try to play, it was a necessity, and even if he wasn't going to try to play, he was going to have it done anyway for his quality of life."

Shero saw what Elias could bring to the ice last season, even though the veteran forward played just 16 games. But the general manager and coaches also valued his presence off it, as Elias attended meetings and kept his presence known around 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 said. "And his body will tell him or his knee will tell him how he feels, and we'll be in constant communication with Patrik."

Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.