Borje Salming

Born:April 17, 1951Draft:Undrafted
Hometown:Kiruna, SwedenPosition:D
Known For:Nickname “The King”Shoots/Catches:Left
National Team:Sweden

Anders Börje Salming (born 17 April 1951), nicknamed “The King“, is a Swedish retired professional ice hockey defenseman. 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 one of the premier defensemen of his era in the NHL, and was recognized for this by being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996. Remembered for his many seasons with the Maple Leafs, he holds numerous franchise records, including most assists. Salming also played extensively for Sweden in international play. He was recognized for this by being selected to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Centennial All-Star Team. In 2017 Salming was named one of the ‘100 Greatest NHL Players’ in history.

Borge Salming, defenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Swedish-born professional hockey player Borge Salming, defenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs, on the ice during a game, 1980s. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)

Borje Salming Statistics

Deeper Dive

Achievements

  • IIHF World Championships Silver Medal — 1973
  • IIHF World Championships Bronze Medal — 1976
  • IIHF World Championships All-Star Team — 1973
  • NHL First All-Star Team — 1977
  • NHL Second All-Star Team — 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979 and 1980
  • Viking Award Winner — 1976, 1977 and 1979
  • Awarded the Molson Cup (Most 3 Star Selections) — 1974, 1977, 1978 and 1980
  • Named to the Canada Cup All-Star Team in 1976
  • NHL All-Star Game — 1976, 1977 and 1978
  • Charlie Conacher Humanitarian Award — 1982
  • Played for Team NHL in 1979 Challenge Cup
  • Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1998
  • Named to the IIHF centennial All Stars team in 2008
  • Maple Leafs Record for Career Assists (620)
  • Maple Leafs Record for Most Points By Defenseman (768)
  • Maple Leafs Record for Goals By Defenseman (148)
  • Maple Leafs Record for Assists in a Season By Defenseman (66)
  • No. 21 Retired By Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame — 1996

Sources