70’s All Star defenceman with the Toronto Maple Leafs Borje Salming passed away Thursday in his battle with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Salming paved the way for other Swedish and European players to play in the NHL. He was the first Swedish player to play in the NHL when Toronto scouted and signed him in 1973. In addition to owning nearly all franchise records for a Leafs defenceman, Salming ranks fourth on the Leafs in career points behind Mats Sundin, Darryl Sittler and Dave Keon.
RIP Borje.