Does Borje Salming Belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Borje Salming was arguably the first European-trained (as opposed to European-born) NHL star. And for 6 years in a row he made the end of season All Star Team (though usually as a 2nd Team All Star).

But what about his lack of team success?

Does Salming still belong in the Hall of Fame? Listen to us discuss his case here:

Borje Salming’s Career:

• NHL: 1973-90; 17 seasons, all quality
• Totals:
  • 150G (17th D All Time at his retirement),
  • 637A (15th D All Time, 6th at his retirement) for
  • 787P (17th D All Time, 7th at his retirement),
  • +170 in
  • 1148 games (8th D All Time at his retirement);
  • 112.8 PS (9th D at his retirement)
  • Salming was 10th All Time in Offensive Point Shares among D at his retirement
  • Salming was 16th All Time in Defensive Point Shares at his retirement
• Per game: Among D, Salming is
  • 18th All time in APG
  • 20th All Time in PPG
• Era: Of the 12 D to play in at least 902 games (11 modern seasons) between 1973 and 1990, Salming is
  • 5th in Goals
  • 6th in GPG
  • 3rd in Assists
  • 3rd in APG
  • 3rd in Points
  • 4th in PPG
  • 4th in Plus/Minus
  • 3rd in Offensive Point Shares
  • 3rd in Defensive Point Shares
  • 3rd in Point Shares
• 82-game average: 11G, 45A for 57P, +12
• 3-year peak (1976-79): 80-game average of 15G, 62A for 78P, +36
• No possession stats
• Playoffs:
  • 12G (25th D All Time at his retirement),
  • 37A for
  • 49P,
  • -11 in
  • 81 Games
  • Per Game: At his retirement, Salming was
    • 23rd All Time among D in playoff APG
  • Era: Of the 112 D to play in at least 41 playoff games between 1973 and 1990, Salming is
    • 19th in Goals
    • 21st in GPG
    • 19th in Assists
    • 18th in APG
    • 19th in Points
    • 22nd in PPG
    • 92nd in Plus/Minus
• Adjusted:
  • Hockey-Reference:
    • 126G,
    • 536A for
    • 662P
    • 82-game average: 9G, 38A for 47P (-10P per 82 games)
    • Per Game: Among D, Salming is not in the Top 25 of any leader-boards
  • VsX:
    • Goals: doesn’t qualify
    • 631A
    • Points: doesn’t qualify
    • Per Game: Obviously not in the Top 25
• Never traded.

Borje Salming’s Accomplishments:

• Top 5 in Hart voting once
• Top 5 in Norris voting seven times
• Top Player:
  • Top 10 Player (by PS) once (‘79)
  • Top 5 Defensive Player (by DPS) once (‘79)
  • Top 10 Defensive Player three times (‘74, ‘78)
• Goals:
  • 15 goals four times (1 of only 22 D at his retirement)
• Assists:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Assists once
    • Top 10 twice
  • APG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in APG once
    • Top 10 three times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 60 assists three times (1 of only 9 D ever)
    • 50 assists five times (1 of only 14 D ever)
    • 40 assists seven times (1 of only 21 D ever)
• Points:
  • 70 points four times (1 of only 12 D ever)
  • 60 points five times (1 of only 20 D ever)
  • 50 points seven times (1 of only 24 ever)
• All Star:
  • 1st Team All Star once
  • 2nd Team All Star five times
  • 3 All Star Game appearances
• VsX Peak:
  • Best 7 Seasons:
    • Goals: doesn’t qualify
    • Assists: 123rd All Time
    • Points: doesn’t qualify
  • Best 10 Seasons:
    • Goals: doesn’t qualify
    • Assists: 125th All Time
    • Points: doesn’t qualify

Borje Salming’s Great Teams:

• NHL:
  • Injured (missed >50% of games) on one Final Four (‘78 Leafs)
• World Championships:
  • Best Player (by points) and Media All Star on one Runner Up (‘73 Sweden)
  • Unknown role (by points) on one one Bronze (‘72 Sweden)