On Friday, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that Hall of Fame defenseman Borje Salming would be the next inductee into Legends Row.
“In addition to being one of the all-time Toronto Maple Leaf greats, Borje Salming deserves credit for helping to open the doors in the NHL for many of the European players that followed,” team president Brendan Shanahan said in a statement. “"Borje was offensively gifted but he was especially loved by Toronto fans for his toughness and he will make an outstanding addition to Legends Row.”
Salming spent 16 season in Toronto, scoring 738 points in 1,019 games, and later became the first player from Sweden ever inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His Legends Row statue will be unveiled in September 2015, joining fellow Toronto greats Darryl Sittler, Ted Kennedy and Johnny Bower.
“Wearing the Toronto Maple Leaf sweater for 16 seasons was a great honour, but to be recognized among some of the top players with a statue on Legends Row, especially with my teammate Darryl Sittler, is something I couldn’t have imagined,” Salming said. “I always look back on my time in Toronto with fondness and enjoy the chance to visit every chance I get.
“The chance to come back for the statue unveiling next September with my family will be very special.”