Salvador looking forward to getting started

Although Bryce Salvador said it was difficult to say goodbye to the only organization he's every played for, the newest Devil is also thrilled to have a chance to play for a team that is leading the Eastern Conference and headed to the playoffs.

"It was tough leaving, but on the other hand, I'm really excited to come to the Devils," the 32-year-old defenseman said in a conference call this morning. "You look at their roster and they have a lot of players who have come through their system like I did and that's important to me."

Salvador played 11 seasons in the Blues organization, seven in the NHL, before he was traded to the Devils on Tuesday morning for enforcer Cam Janssen. He didn't arrive in his hotel in New Jersey until after 10 p.m onTuesday. He underwent his physical this morning and met with general manager Lou Lamoriello. Salvador won't get a chance to practice with his new teammates until Thursday because the Devils have today off following three games in four days.

Salvador said he was told he was traded about 8:30 a.m. St. Louis time (9:30 Eastern).

"We were prepared for a possible trade, but never really expected it to happen," he said. "It's tough when you've been with an organization for (11) years."

Salvador is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and was in contract talks with the Blues, but when they re-signed Barret Jackman on Monday night (and with two years left on defenseman Jay McKee's contract at $4 million per), that sealed his fate.

"We were just talking back and forth. There was an atmosphere to get something done," he said. "The only deadline i had for the Blues was July 1. Sometimes what you want doesn't always happen. At some point, the business side has to take over."

Salvador said he is not thinking about whether he will re-sign with the Blues this summer and there has been no discussion with Lamoriello about whether the Devils want to sign him to an extension.

"My first goal is to come in here and make a seamless transition and not make a distraction to the team that is here right now," he said. "I'm just really looking forward to meeting the guys tomorrow."

Salvador, a physical, stay-at-home defenseman, was paired this season with Eric Brewer in a duo the Blues matched against the opposition's top lines. His plus-12 defensive rating was the best on the team.

"Just basically whatever it takes to help the team win is what I try to bring," he said. "Most importantly, I want to bring a presence where I'm tough to play against, I outwork you and keep you off the board."

For those of you who were asking, Salvador will wear No. 24. "There's no significance to the number," he said. "It was given to me."

Comments

[Derek]

Looks like he's got a great attitude. I think this will be a great trade by Lou. He bleeds Devil!

[Steve Lepore]

Isn't Bryce like, the 4th person to wear No. 24 this year?

Matvichuk in training camp
Malmivaara
Tallackson
Salvador

That's gotta be a league record.

[jules]

Awesome. Sounds like he'll fit right in. I do feel a little bad for Blues fans, but I can't really complain since we've benefited. The Blues have really been great for our organization.

[Will]

Does anyone know of any other teams where management is strict about what numbers players are allowed to wear? I understand why Lou does it but it's still pretty amusing.

[Pat D'Amico]

I'm looking forward to seeing him play, I know he'll make the difference on our team.

[Piscataway Devils Fan]

Good luck to Bryce, let's hope he can contribute and help the team out on the blueline. Let's all not rush to judgement on him after one or two games either.
it takes time to adjust.

[dannyd]

this is how i think the pairings should look
martin-white (have worked well together in past)
oduya-salvador
and some combo of vishnevski rachunek mattou depending on who is playing the best...im sorry but greene is too soft, especially come playoff time, and brookbank just isn't an NHL player, his ONLY feature is toughness

[Mike]

I don't think the # thing is a big deal with Lou. Ever since McMullen owned the team, #13 was outlawed for superstitious reasons (though I bet Mats Sundin would be allowed to wear it if he were a Devil). Salvador wore #27 with the Blues, but since that's taken, he gets #24. For team sake, Lou tried to keep the #'s close, but there have been exceptions, like Gilmour and #93

[Mike]

I don't think the # thing is a big deal with Lou. Ever since McMullen owned the team, #13 was outlawed for superstitious reasons (though I bet Mats Sundin would be allowed to wear it if he were a Devil). Salvador wore #27 with the Blues, but since that's taken, he gets #24. For team sake, Lou tried to keep the #'s close, but there have been exceptions, like Gilmour and #93

[Mike]

Oduya and Martin, though both very soft, have formed some chemistry over the season, and (sadly) are our top defensive pairing. I would put Salvador with Whitey to be our shutdown pairing. Mottau has struggled recently, but I'd play him on the 3rd pairing. I'll bet VV gets a chance again, after all he can't be that bad, since he leads the team in blocked shots and hits. Yes, he takes himself out of position to make a big hit, but if he had a defensively reliable line mate, that should be covered up. Andy Greene should turn out to be a reliable d-man, but he is pretty soft defensively, which draws the ire of Sutter on many occasions (a couple of weeks back Sutter stopped practice to yell at Andy)

[Mike]

Oduya and Martin, though both very soft, have formed some chemistry over the season, and (sadly) are our top defensive pairing. I would put Salvador with Whitey to be our shutdown pairing. Mottau has struggled recently, but I'd play him on the 3rd pairing. I'll bet VV gets a chance again, after all he can't be that bad, since he leads the team in blocked shots and hits. Yes, he takes himself out of position to make a big hit, but if he had a defensively reliable line mate, that should be covered up. Andy Greene should turn out to be a reliable d-man, but he is pretty soft defensively, which draws the ire of Sutter on many occasions (a couple of weeks back Sutter stopped practice to yell at Andy)

[JCatral]

I'm actually excited to see him play for the Devils. He seems to have a good attitude and I hope he's as tough and hard to play against. I can't wait!

[Will Dunne]

The number thing is a big thing for Lou (and the Devils). The only people that are allowed to wear high numbers are established vets coming from other teams.

http://www.devilsrule.com/theteam/bythenumber.php

Take a look.

[e-max]

I am psyched about hinm coming here. If you read the trade talk articles online this trade barely gets mentioned (if at all), but I think it helps us a lot. Salvador seems to have a great attitude and should fit right in and produce right away.

[Ron]

I dont know what the pairings should be aside from Oduya and Martin, and yes Greene's game last night wasn't great...but who's was really? One game shouldn't erase all the good games he has played. He has a better +/- than Mottau. I think Salvador and Greene could be an interesting pairing. Greene and Brookbank shouldn't have been on the same line as they are both rookies. I think Greene being "soft" as you say, would be balanced out with a physical vet like Salvador.

[Jason]

Greene needs to sit a couple after last night. He was soft on Samsonov twice. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. He and Brookbank need to spend some more time in Lowell. If we want an offensive defenseman that is a liability on D, we could just stick with Rachunek. Mottau has be OK at least.

Martin Oduya
White/VV Mottau
Rachunek Salvador

[BishopQ]

The sequential numbers are a tradition for Lou. They keep them low, except for established veterans, because it's an honor to pull on the sweater. You take the number your given and that's that. It's a bit of old time hockey mentality.

[JJ]

I'm with you Danny your pairings sound good in theory, it's always a nice to have a hitter & a skater paired for balance because only the elite can do both, but I'd hesitate to split up Oduya & Martin this late in the season after the success they're having even if on paper it looks like the right thing to do. Oduya is using his body a little more lately also, so I wouldn't call him soft, more tentative. White & Mottau have been effective together also (although Mottau can be over-matched when facing the opponent's top forwards). I could see Salvador paired with Greene or Rachunek, but not with White, maybe on PK where you don't need to skate as much. We'll see. I'm sure Sutter & co. will make the right choice when they see how these guys play together over the next few games. That's part of the reason the trade deadline was moved up a couple weeks, more acclimation time.

[Brian]

Welcome aboard Bryce, look forward to watching you on Friday. Good luck.

[Brian]

Welcome aboard Bryce, look forward to watching you on Friday. Good luck.

[CJ]

What does anyone know about the issues that the Devils are having regarding the lease at the prudential center. I read an article in the record saying that some politician is looking into the lease agreement the Devils have with the arena.

[Gunther]

CJ-

It's a political game of tag. A few months back when JVB called for the closing of Izod Center, he suggested the lease agreement there should be reviewed. As is the case when any politician's backyard is threatened, the Bergen County politicos have called to have the Devs lease reviewed.

What's even better if you can find the story on one of the local media sites is to read the comments of the Bergen County residents to scared to drive into Newark. They love bashing the largest city in the state they left to rot. And these people haven't been to Newark in years, if ever. Enjoy your technicolor shopping mall, slaprocks.

[Gunther]

PS, sorry about the structure and typos. End of the day fatigue.

[Devs4Life]

I'm going to have a real hard time adjusting to this Salvador guy and not having Cam around...

[Al]

So Barry Tallackson will have another number when he's called. Is that his third or fourth. MG time!

Glad the guy is on board. Great swap, a solid performer for a one fight, two charging hits...great guy. Good job Lou!
(You can't live off one incredible wrist shot forever).