Who is Börje Salming?
Anders Börje Salming, nicknamed “The King,” was born on April 17, 1951, in Stockholm, Sweden. He played for Brynäs IF, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Detroit Red Wings, and AIK. Salming was one of the first European players to make an impact in the National Hockey League (NHL), paving the way for future generations of…
Anders Börje Salming, nicknamed “The King,” was born on April 17, 1951, in Stockholm, Sweden. He played for Brynäs IF, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Detroit Red Wings, and AIK. Salming was one of the first European players to make an impact in the National Hockey League (NHL), paving the way for future generations of players. He was recognized for being among the best defensemen in the NHL during his time by being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996. He is best known for his lengthy tenure with the Maple Leafs, where he set numerous records, including the most assists. Salming also contributed significantly to Sweden’s international games. He was chosen for the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Centennial All-Star Team as a result of this. Salming was recognized as one of the “100 Greatest NHL Players” of all time in 2017.
Salming was a fan favorite in Toronto. His popularity may have peaked during the 1976 Canada Cup, which was held at Maple Leaf Gardens. During Team Sweden’s game against Team USA, Salming received an extended standing ovation during player introductions. Salming later added, “I’ll never forget our game in Toronto. During the introductions, the fans gave me a standing ovation. I was representing my country, and Canadian fans gave me a standing ovation. Sometimes hockey has no country.”
