Tommy Salo

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Salo began his career playing three seasons in the Elitserien with Västerås IK. He was chosen 118th overall, in the fifth round, by the New York Islanders in 1993. He debuted with the Islanders in 1994–95, but played the majority of his first two seasons in North America with New York's International Hockey League (IHL) affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies. Playing in the IHL, Salo won back-to-back Turner Cups with the Grizzlies and earned the N.R. 'Bud' Poile Trophy as playoff MVP in 1996. In his first year, he was named both league MVP and rookie of the year in 1995, in addition to First Team All-Star honours and a James Norris Memorial Trophy for allowing the fewest goals against. In 1996–97, Salo emerged as the Islanders' starting goaltender and played in that capacity until March 20, 1999, when he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Mats Lindgren and an eighth-round pick in the 1999 NHL entry draft. Salo found his stride in Edmonton and was chosen to two All-Star Games in 2000 and 2002. In 2001–02, Salo recorded a career-best 2.22 goals against average (GAA). On March 9, 2004, after six seasons with Edmonton, Salo was traded to the Colorado Avalanche (along with a sixth-round pick in the 2004 NHL entry draft) in exchange for Tom Gilbert. As NHL play was suspended the following season due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Salo returned to Sweden in signing a one-year contract with Modo Hockey of the Elitserien. After Modo was eliminated in the playoffs by Färjestad BK, Salo announced his retirement from professional hockey on March 17, 2005, citing chronic hip pain. On December 9, 2006, in an interview with Swedish newspaper Expressen, Salo announced that he would retire from playing professional hockey after the 2006–07 season. Salo first competed for Sweden in the 1991 World Junior Championships. He played an integral role in Sweden's gold medal victory at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, making critical saves in the gold medal game as they defeated Canada in a shootout. In 1998, he competed in the Winter Olympics again, playing in four games as Sweden failed to medal. At the 2002 Winter Olympics, Salo started for Sweden; in the quarter-final against Belarus, he surrendered a 20-metre goal from defenceman Vladimir Kopat after the puck bounced off his mask and into the net, leading to a major upset. Shortly after completing his playing career,

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere shifted dramatically after the 2003–04 season. On March 9, 2004, Salo left Edmonton for the Colorado Avalanche, marking the end of his six-year run as the club's starter. The following season was never played due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout. During this suspension, Salo returned to Sweden, signing a one-year contract with Modo Hockey in the Elitserien. He played through the playoffs until Modo was eliminated by Färjestad BK. On March 17, 2005, citing chronic hip pain, Salo announced his retirement from professional hockey. However, the story took an unexpected turn on December 9, 2006, when he told Swedish newspaper Expressen that he would retire after the 2006–07 season, suggesting a brief, unfulfilled comeback plan before fully stepping away.

Reader's Guide

Tommy Salo is a Swedish former NHL goaltender and current general manager of Leksands IF. He played for the New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, and Colorado Avalanche. He won an Olympic gold medal with Sweden in 1994 and was selected to two NHL All-Star Games (2000, 2002). His career-best GAA was 2.22 in 2001–02. He was traded from the Islanders to Edmonton in 1999 and from Edmonton to Colorado in 2004. After retiring, he coached IK Oskarshamn before becoming GM of Leksands IF.

Did You Know?

• Salo won back-to-back Turner Cups with the Utah Grizzlies in the IHL.
• He was named IHL MVP and rookie of the year in 1995.
• Salo made a decisive penalty save in the 1994 Olympic gold medal game against Canada.
• He was convicted of aggravated drunken driving in 2021 and sentenced to two months in prison.