Bryce Salvador #24 of the New Jersey Devils skates against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on October 8, 2013 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Ben Nelms/Getty Images) (2013 Getty Images)
After nearly 800 games in 14 NHL seasons, New Jersey Devils captain Bryce Salvador has retired.
The NHL Players Association announced Salvador's retirement on Wednesday.
The defenseman is of African and Brazilian descent, and had been the Devils' captain for the past three seasons, but he missed all but 15 games last year with a back injury.
He finishes his career with 24 goals and 86 assists in 786 games split between the Devils and the St. Louis Blues.
Salvador says he's looking forward to continuing his involvement in hockey. He says he's thankful that his two sons were able to see him play after he thought his career was over when he missed the 2010-2011 season because of injury.
Salvador was traded from the Blues to the Devils during his seventh NHL season.
Based on reporting by The Associated Press.
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