New Jersey Devils forward Patrik Elias said he would accept the captaincy if the team offered it to him, NJ Advance Media reported Thursday.

The Devils enter training camp without a captain following the retirement earlier this month of Bryce Salvador, who had been captain since the 2012-13 season.

"No question about it because it's an honor and you have a lot of young guys and new guys here," Elias said. "I think I can do the job, probably better than I did 10 years ago."

Elias was Devils captain in 2006-07 under coach Claude Julien, and had 21 goals and 69 points in 75 games. When Brent Sutter took over the following season Elias had the captaincy removed; forward Jamie Langenbrunner subsequently was named captain.

Now the oldest player on the Devils at age 39, Elias feels better equipped now to handle the job.

"Sometimes you subconsciously try to do too much, be involved too much being that pipeline between the players and the coach," he said. "When you're a little bit older you figure out you have to do what you have to do and not to get frustrated."

However, Elias said last week he thinks there are players better suited for the job, according to Northjersey.com. He mentioned defenseman Andy Greene, forward Adam Henrique and forward Mike Cammalleri as players who may be deserving of being the Devils' 11th captain.

The Devils enter a season of transition with Ray Shero having replaced Lou Lamoriello as general manager and John Hynes the new coach. Elias, who enters the final season of his contract, has said he hopes to play beyond this season. He understands a lot goes into naming a captain and that the new regime may be in no rush.

"He [Shero] doesn't know us yet," Elias said. "I think it's a good thing they're taking their time. Nothing will change for me as far as leading whether I have a letter or I don't have a letter."