Andy-Greene-Jacob-Josefson-Kurdzuk.JPG

Andy Greene (right) has some words of wisdom for Devils teammate Jacob Josefson.

(Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger)

The decision is not an easy one for Devils coach Pete DeBoer and GM Lou Lamoriello. With the departure of Ilya Kovalchuk, there is an 'A' to be sewn on someone's jersey and the team has at least two leading candidates.



Bryce Salvador is the captain and Patrik Elias is already an alternate, so it appears that the choice to get the second 'A' comes down to Travis Zajac or Andy Greene.



DeBoer said no decision has been made.

"Obviously it would be a great honor. I would love that," said Greene, who will wear an 'A' in tonight's preseason game against the Islanders.

"At the same time, as everyone says, just because you do or don't have a letter doesn't mean you are or aren't a leader on this team. It's a group effort."



Whether or not he gets a letter, Greene has become a key for the Devils. He had what DeBoer called a breakout season in 2012-13 and left his coach and teammates wondering why outsiders continually refer to the club's "no-name" defense.



"For me he was our best defensemen. Arguably, if not our best player, he was in the top couple of names you would mention," DeBoer said of Greene. "I thought he had a real breakout season. I know he's played well in the past, but to me he took his game to another level last year. Obviously his confidence is very good."



That was the key for the Michigan native.



"I thought it was a pretty good year," Greene said modestly. "It was one of those things where I had a lot of confidence. Playing games every other day (with the lockout-compressed schedule), it's easy when you're playing well to get in that groove and keep it there. Obviously I've been on the other end of the spectrum where you get stuck in a rut and you feel like you can't do anything right."



Greene's main issue in the past has been staying healthy. He suffered a broken hand in his second full season and missed 22 games in 2011-12 with a broken foot.



When he's healthy, he is reliable.



"Dependability. You know what you're getting every night from Andy," DeBoer noted. "You're not wondering when you put his name in the lineup or you throw him on the ice in critical situations what you're going to get. You know what you're going to get. That's a comforting feeling for a coach."



There are many who believe a team needs a star goalie, star defenseman and at least one dominating forward to win a Stanley Cup. Greene, who had 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) and was plus-3 in 48 games last season, thinks the Devils have a team capable of winning.



"I hope so. It's more than just three guys that win a Stanley Cup," he said. "It's literally all 23 or 25 guys. When guys get hurt, others step in. That's the way we approach it.



"We don't listen to it or care (what people say about the defense). We don't have that big superstar back there, but it's a team game and we do it with the group of us."



Greene, approaching 31, will be paired on defense tonight with rookie Damon Severson, 19.



"It's funny, the first couple years you're the young one. Then, all of a sudden one year later, it's a weird transition," Greene said. "It's good for the team and the organization to see these guys coming up."



He has become a leader.

“A little bit. I’m not a big rah-rah guy, but if there is a need for something to be said I’ll say it,” Greene said.

He is on a very short list for an ‘A.’