The true story of how Börje Salming--The King--changed the game of hockey forever, silencing critics as he played against some of the toughest players of any era. Börje Salming changed the game of hockey forever. Not only was he the first major European player to join the NHL, his play transformed the position of defence for decades to come. Picking up where Bobby Orr left off, Salming dominated the game with his offensive skill, defensive prowess, and legendary strength and toughness. Some in the hockey world, including the cantankerous Leafs' owner Harold Ballard, doubted the capabilities of a Swedish player, but Salming, who came out of nowhere as an unheralded blueliner, showed the entire hockey world what a highly athletic, dedicated, and professional teammate he could be, opening the door for generations of future NHLers, including Leafs legend Mats Sundin and scoring sensation Peter Forsberg. Salming fit in perfectly with the dynamic Leafs of the 1970s, dominating alongside Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald, and Mike Palmateer, making highlight-reel plays and digging in the corners with the era's toughest players. When Börje Salming died of ALS in 2022, we lost not only a legend but an all-time player and a kind and generous man. Fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs were crushed, as they had just seen Salming at Scotiabank Arena with his arm raised in defiance of his disease. Both Leafs Nation and the wider hockey world was honoured by his presence in a hugely emotional moment. His life was cut short, but his legend will never die. In The King, Salming, in his final words, along with writer Ola Liljedahl, shares the inside story, in his trademark humble way, about what made Salming's career so transformational in a game dominated by Canadian players. His grace, his talent, his effortless play, and even his off-ice antics with his teammates and scintillating game play illuminate these pages in a lasting testament to one of hockey's greatest legacies.
