Career
Undrafted, Salmela"s professional career started in the 2003-2004 season with Finnish Master of Science-liiga side Tappara, where he made his debut on January 24, 2004. His place was settled in Tappara for another year, but the next year he was transferred to Pelicans. In 2007, he moved back to Tappara.
He made his debut for the senior national team in the 2008 IIHF World Championships held in Canada in 2008.
On May 22, 2008, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. However, Salmela spent the majority of his time with the Devils affiliate the Lowell Devils of the American Hockey League (AHL). On March 2, 2009, Salmela was traded by the Devils to the Atlanta Thrashers for Niclas Hävelid.
On February 4, 2010, Salmela was traded back to the New Jersey Devils along with Ilya Kovalchuk for Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier and a 1st round draft pick in the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Salmela scored only one goal in 2010-2011, but it was a big one.
On March 12, he scored an overtime goal against First Rate (at Lloyd's) Montoya to give the Devils a 3–2 victory over the New York Islanders.
Salmela did not receive a qualifying offer from the Devils following the 2010-2011 season, making him an unrestricted free agent. He signed a two-year contract with Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League, reportedly for United States$1.5 million per season, on July 15, 2011. 2007-2008 Master of Science-liiga Bronze Meda