Bryce Salvador

Bryce Chadwick Salvador (born February 11, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Salvador was drafted in the sixth round, 138th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1994 NHL entry draft. During his professional career, he played for the St. Louis Blues and the New Jersey Devils.

Salvador is of African and Brazilian descent on his father's side, and Ukrainian on his mother's side.

Playing career

Salvador entered the NHL with a reputation as a gritty defenceman and engaged in three fights in his first 15 games. While in St. Louis, Salvador created a program with teammate Jamal Mayers called Jam 'n Sal's Community Stars, which recognizes kids who perform small acts of kindness and generosity. Salvador was traded from the St. Louis Blues to the Devils in exchange for Cam Janssen on February 26, 2008. On July 1, Salvador re-signed with the Devils to a four-year deal worth $11.6 million.

On July 3, 2012, Salvador was re-signed to a three-year contract by the Devils.

On January 17, 2013, due to his leadership in the locker room and somewhat lengthy tenure on the roster, he was named the 10th captain in the New Jersey Devils history, and the third black captain in NHL history, behind Dirk Graham and Jarome Iginla. Due to lower back injuries, Salvador only played in 94 games after the start of the 2012–13 season.

On September 2, 2015, Salvador announced his retirement after playing for 14 seasons.

Broadcasting career Since 2017, Salvador has been the television studio analyst and rinkside reporter for all Devils home games on MSG Sportsnet.

Salvador has worked as an ice level analyst for the Stanley Cup Playoffs on TNT since 2022.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1992–93 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 64 1 4 5 29 4 0 0 0 0 1993–94 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 61 4 14 18 36 9 0 1 1 2 1994–95 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 67 1 9 10 88 — — — — — 1995–96 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 56 4 12 16 75 3 0 1 1 2 1996–97 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 63 8 32 40 81 19 0 7 7 14 1997–98 Worcester IceCats AHL 46 2 8 10 74 11 0 1 1 45 1998–99 Worcester IceCats AHL 69 5 13 18 129 4 0 1 1 2 1999–2000 Worcester IceCats AHL 56 0 13 13 53 9 0 1 1 2 2000–01 St. Louis Blues NHL 75 2 8 10 69 14 2 0 2 18 2001–02 St. Louis Blues NHL 66 5 7 12 78 10 0 1 1 4 2002–03 St. Louis Blues NHL 71 2 8 10 95 7 0 0 0 2 2003–04 St. Louis Blues NHL 69 3 5 8 47 5 0 0 0 2 2003–04 Worcester IceCats AHL 2 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2004–05 Missouri River Otters UHL 7 0 0 0 16 — — — — — 2005–06 St. Louis Blues NHL 46 1 4 5 26 — — — — — 2006–07 St. Louis Blues NHL 64 2 5 7 55 — — — — — 2007–08 St. Louis Blues NHL 56 1 10 11 43 — — — — — 2007–08 New Jersey Devils NHL 8 0 0 0 11 5 1 0 1 2 2008–09 New Jersey Devils NHL 76 3 13 16 78 4 0 0 0 4 2009–10 New Jersey Devils NHL 79 4 10 14 57 5 0 0 0 6 2011–12 New Jersey Devils NHL 82 0 9 9 66 24 4 10 14 26 2012–13 New Jersey Devils NHL 39 0 2 2 22 — — — — — 2013–14 New Jersey Devils NHL 40 1 3 4 29 — — — — — 2014–15 New Jersey Devils NHL 15 0 2 2 20 — — — — — NHL totals 786 24 86 110 696 74 7 11 18 64