‘The King’ a pioneer for Maple Leafs, NHL
DEFENCEMAN HELPED USHER SWEDISH WAVE INTO LEAGUE
It was Harry Neale who once said every Swede in the NHL should send Borje Salming a piece of their pay cheque. “I wish I’d signed a contract based on that,” Salming chuckled when the former coach’s quip was relayed to him in 2013, the 40th anniversary of his arrival in North America with the Maple Leafs.
“It’s nice they say that about me. But I was just happy to be someone from Northern Sweden who was good enough to come over and play. My life changed, but I’m happy with the rewards it gave me.”
The King, as the Leafs and two generations of their fans knew him so well, is gone.
Ravaged by the onset of ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Salming died at 71 on Thursday in Sweden, the club announced in a joint statement with his family.
Team president Brendan Shanahan, who arranged a tribute night for Salming earlier this month, recognized the defenceman as “a pioneer of the game and an icon with an unbreakable spirit and unquestioned toughness.
“He helped open the door for Europeans in the NHL and defined himself through his play on the ice and through his contributions to the community.”
In 1973, with the door just opening for talent across the Atlantic following the Summit Series with Russia, the Leafs were the first to take advantage, bringing over Salming and countryman Inge Hammarstrom.
“At that time, the North American market for players had been picked over,” general manager Jim Gregory told the Toronto Sun years ago. “Russians and Czechs were off-limits, so teams had begun looking elsewhere. ”We knew the Rangers were looking at Swedes and Finns, too. So I got the go-ahead to sign Borje and Inge.”
Hockey already had allowed Salming to escape a dreary future in Kiruna, in the farthest reach of the country. His grandfather had herded reindeer, his father was a miner until a work accident took his life when Borje was five.
Salming’s mother urged him to seek another profession — above ground — and his athletic prowess was the ticket to club hockey and the national team.
“Everyone at home had read about Thommie Bergman (a Swede who hadn’t stayed long in the NHL in the ’60s),” Salming said. “There was a lot of attention on North America at the time because of the ’72 series and the start of the World Hockey Association.
“Inge and I knew nothing about life in Toronto and the NHL, but said we’d give it everything we’ve got and, if doesn’t work out, we can always go home.”
At 22, Salming was already in superior shape to other Leafs, who in those days ambled into camp carrying summer flab.
Salming also played a lot of European handball, giving him dexterity that he brought to the ice as a passer. Teammates were in awe of his physique.
“He was a great natural athlete,” defenceman Jim Mckenny recalled in the book Tales from the Leafs. “He could have been a pro tennis player, an auto racer, just about anything he wanted.
“The first time Borje played golf (with the Leafs) he shot a 90. He was never down at cards. We’d go downtown, he’d play chess with guys in the park and win.”
While Hammarstrom found NHL tactics too rough and did not hit it off with owner Harold Ballard, Salming endured, despite mistreatment by rivals who either disliked foreigners or feared they’d take their jobs. His heroism in playoffs series against the rogue Philadelphia Flyers, the Broad Street Bullies of the day, earned him the lasting adoration of Leaf fans.
“His body looked like a pin cushion some nights,” former general manager Gerry Mcnamara said in admiration.
But his skill won out, gaining respect across the hockey world. In 16 seasons, he set many franchise records, including most assists (620), third-most games (1,099) and nominations to the first and second NHL all-star teams.
He had the most goals (148), points (768) and playoff points (49) by a defenceman and was a two-time runner-up for the Norris Trophy.
Many Swedes followed him to the Leafs and the NHL, including the club’s first Scandinavian captain, Mats Sundin, the eventual franchise scoring leader. A handful of Swedes are on the team today, with Salming making it a point to meet players such as Rasmus Sandin and William Nylander to ease their Toronto transition and Swedes remain well represented around the NHL.
Salming played effectively into the late 1980s and though finished with Detroit and his club and national team, his heart was tied to Toronto,
His No. 21 eventually retired and he received a statue on Legend’s Row. He always garnered huge ovations in his return to Toronto, right up until this year’s Hall of Fame Game (he was first Swede inducted into the Hall).
This year had become sadly evident that his form of ALS had advanced too quickly. He was unable to speak and needed the assistance of wife Pia, Sittler and Lanny Mcdonald to get to centre ice. But he was able to acknowledge a huge ovation with one last wave that didn’t leave a dry eye at Scotiabank Arena.
“Borje will forever be a part of our hockey family,” Shanahan said. “We extend our deepest condolences to Pia, his children Theresa, Anders, Rasmus, Bianca, Lisa and Sara, and brother Stieg.”