1974-75 O-Pee-Chee 180 Borje Salming Hockey Card (Front)
1974-75 O-Pee-Chee 180 Borje Salming Hockey Card (Back)
1974-75 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
Although he didn’t get a lot of attention at first, Borje quickly developed into a legitimate contender for rookie of the year honours in the National Hockey League last season. Trained in the European style of play, he adjusted perfectly to the NHL style and was one of Toronto’s top defensemen during the second half of last season. He’s good with the puck and at setting up plays. A smart stickhandler and a fine skater.
En Français
Bien qu’il n’ait pas tellement attiré l’attention au début de la saison passée, Borje a vraiment brillé comme recrue dans la Ligue Nationale. Même si sa formation était européenne, il s’adapta rapidement au style de jeu de la LNH; il fut l’un des meilleurs défenseurs de Toronto durant la deuxième moitié de la saison. Bon patineur et habile avec son bâton.
Details
Borje Salming finished up his rookie 1973-74 NHL season with five goals and 34 assists for 39 points over 76 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He finished third in voting for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year behind winner Denis Potvin and runner-up Tom Lysiak. Salming also got attention for the Norris Trophy, finishing fifth in the balloting, a great distance behind winner Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins.
Borje’s numbers continued to improve but he was never able to capture the Norris as the league’s top defenseman. However, he was often in the top 5 and was runner-up for the award on two occasions.
In 1976-77, his career high 66 assists placed Salming in a three way tie for third in the NHL, equaling Larry Robinson and Tim Young, 14 behind leader Guy Lafleur. It was one of three times that Borje would reach the 60 assist plateau in a single season.
Between 1973-74 and 1989-90, Borje Salming played in 1,148 regular season and 81 playoff games in the National Hockey League. All but 49 of those games were played with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His final season in the NHL was played with the Detroit Red Wings. Salming was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996.