According to a report from Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record, New Jersey Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador is out indefinitely with a concussion. Devils General Manager Lou Lamoriello said no decision has been made about placing Salvador on long-term injured reserve.
"We haven't even talked about that or discussed that," Lamoriello said.
According to Gulitti's report, Salvador remains on the team's roster. If he were to be placed on LTIR, his $2.9 million salary still would count against the salary cap, but the Devils would be able to exceed the cap by that amount. Currently, they are nearly $3 million over the $59.4 million cap and need to be under it by 3 p.m. Wednesday. Defenseman Anssi Salmela's cap hit of $612,500 counts against that total, but he will begin the season on LTIR.
Salvador was injured after a check by Philadelphia's James van Riemsdyk in the first period of Tuesday's preseason game and left briefly before returning and taking another hit from Scott Hartnell. But Lamoriello said the concussion also may have been caused over multiple games. Salvador was on the receiving end of several punches in a fight with the Rangers' Kris Newbury on Saturday.
"I really can't answer what caused it, but it was a combination of a couple of games' hits," Lamoriello said. "I wouldn't be able to pinpoint anything other than there was certainly concern immediately and rather than say anything I wanted to make sure that he went through all the proper procedures and diagnostic tests. But he will be out indefinitely."
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.