Bryce Salvador (foot) is "pretty close" to returning. Salvador will accompany the Devils on their upcoming two-game road trip that includes games in Washington on Saturday and Chicago on Monday. "Whether I play on the trip or not, we'll see, but definitely it's just good to be back skating with the guys and just that fact alone means I'm that much closer," he said. If nothing else, this trip will help him work on his conditioning ahead of a possible return on Dec. 27.

Bryce Salvador's fractured foot has healed to the point where he's able to practice. Salvador didn't experience any pain when he skated on Wednesday. He won't be available on Friday or Saturday, but at this point, the distance until his return is probably better to measure in days than weeks.

Bryce Salvador has yet to return to the ice after fracturing his foot on October 29. Salvador was expected to be out at least a week but it's turning into a month or more as he suffered a non-displaced stress fracture of his foot. Salvador had two assists in nine games before the injury with nine penalty minutes so he has limited fantasy value at best when healthy.

Bryce Salvador is optimistic that his fractured foot won't keep him out of the lineup for long. "Really, it's day to day," Salvador said. "It comes down to once the bone starts healing a bit. It's not displaced or anything, so it doesn't require surgery or being put in a cast, so I'm pretty fortunate from that standpoint." He has two assists and nine penalty minutes in nine games this season.

Bryce Salvador is expected to miss at least a week with a non-displaced stress fracture in his foot. An MRI revealed the fracture over the weekend after an X-ray taken last week came back negative. Salvador's foot has been sore since he blocked a shot last Tuesday against Columbus and he missed New Jersey's last two games due to a death in his family. "It's just going to be time," GM Lou Lamoriello said. "It could be a week, could be 10 days. It's just time." The Devils have placed him on injured reserve.

Bryce Salvador is projected to be available for Tuesday's game versus Tampa Bay. He has been away from the team since Wednesday because of a death in his family, but according to GM Lou Lamoriello he's on his way back to New Jersey.

Defenseman Bryce Salvador will not return to the New Jersey Devils lineup today. He will miss the Devils' game in Boston because of a death in his family. He missed Thursday's game for the same reason, although sources say he also may be suffering pain from taking a puck in the foot on Tuesday. Eric Gelinas, who impressed teammates on Thursday, will take Salvador's spot again today.

Bryce Salvador has left New Jersey because of a death in his family. Salvador has been moved to the non-roster play list so that the Devils could call up Eric Gelinas. Before this tragedy, Salvador played on Tuesday and left the game after being hit in the foot by the puck. He took X-Rays and they didn't reveal a break.

Bryce Salvador missed the third period of Tuesday's game with a leg injury. Salvador absorbed a hard hit to his left hip during Saturday's contest. He was credited with delivering five hits Tuesday before he was yanked from the contest. Although his fantasy value is minimal in standard leagues, the struggling Devils would miss his defensive contributions if he ends up on the sidelines for an extended period of time.

New Jersey Devils captain Bryce Salvador said his team is being "tested" by their early season slump. The Devils are off to a 0-4-3 start after a 5-2 defeat to Ottawa on Thursday. "All of our character is being tested right now, and we've got to make sure that we have our head up and realize that no one's coming in to do anything for us," Salvador said. "It's everyone in here that's going to have to continue to put on our work hats and make sure we're coming and sticking to it." The Devils weren't highly regarded going into the season after Ilya Kovalchuk decided to walk away. The worst part is that the Devils don't have a first round draft pick this season, so a terrible season won't even result in them getting a potential cornerstone for their franchise.