BRYCE SALVADOR
Date of Birth: 1976-02-11Date of Induction: 2026-10-03
Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning from the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 6th round of the 1994 NHL Draft, Brandon’s Bryce Salvador wasn’t offered a contract, making him a free agent. He’d end up signing with the St. Louis Blues in his final ‘overage’ junior season in 1996.
The gritty Salvador was advised early in his career that in order to stay in the NHL he needed to become a defensive, shutdown defenceman. Salvador would spend the next 3 seasons with the AHL Worcester IceCats, fine-tuning the skills required and cracking the Blues lineup in 2000. He’d settle in with the Blues for the next 8 seasons.
On February 26, 2008 Salvador was traded from the St. Louis Blues to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Cam Janssen. On July 1, Salvador would re-sign with the Devils to a four-year deal.
He would miss the entire 2010/11 season with injury. Determined to return to the game, he’d return the following season playing the full 82 games. On July 3, 2012, Salvador was re-signed to a three-year contract by the Devils.
On January 17, 2013 his leadership was recognized when he was named the 10th captain in the New Jersey Devils history, and just the third black captain in NHL history. Lower back injuries, would limit Salvador to only 94 games after the start of the 2012–13 season. On September 2, 2015, after 14 seasons 786 NHL games, Salvador announced his retirement.