Börje Salming: The Swedish Trailblazer Who Redefined NHL Defence

When Börje Salming arrived in Toronto in 1973, few in the NHL were prepared for what the Swedish defenceman would bring. At a time when European players were still viewed with skepticism, Salming’s combination of toughness, poise, and two-way excellence quickly shattered the old stereotypes and opened the door for generations of European stars who followed.

Signed from Brynäs IF, one of Sweden’s premier clubs, Salming made an immediate impact with the Maple Leafs. His smooth skating, elite vision, and willingness to battle in the gritty corners of the rink made him a fan favourite from the moment he stepped on the ice. Toronto had never seen a defenceman quite like him and soon, neither had the rest of the league.

Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Salming became one of the NHL’s premier blueliners. He set new standards for offensive production from the defence position, highlighted by a franchise-record season in 1976-77 when he posted 78 points, a Maple Leafs record for a defenceman that stood for decades. Yet Salming’s game was never just about numbers. His courage and resilience made him a symbol of pride in Toronto, especially during the rougher, more physical era of the league.

Despite facing intense abuse from opponents and fans early in his career, often rooted in anti-European bias, Salming earned universal respect for his durability. One of the more iconic moments came in 1986, when he received a horrific facial cut from a skate yet returned to play soon after, reinforcing a toughness that even his harshest critics could not deny.

When he left the Maple Leafs in 1989, he did so as one of the most beloved players in franchise history. His impact extended far beyond Toronto: Salming helped change the NHL’s perception of European talent, paving the way for modern superstars from Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and more.

In 1996, Salming became the first Swedish player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, cementing his place as both a Maple Leafs legend and a global hockey pioneer.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Börje Salming

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Börje Salming was a pioneering NHL star from which country?

Sweden
Finland
Norway
Denmark

2. Salming is best known for his long NHL career with which team?

Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
Vancouver Canucks
Los Angeles Kings

3. Which major honour did Börje Salming achieve in 1996?

Induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Winning the Norris Trophy
Winning the Stanley Cup
Coaching the Swedish National Team

4. Börje Salming set a Maple Leafs record for most points in a season by a defenceman in which decade?

1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s

5. Before joining the Maple Leafs, Salming starred for which Swedish club?

HV71
Brynäs IF
Färjestad BK
Djurgårdens IF

Danny Grant’s First NHL Hat Trick Set the Stage for His Calder Trophy Triumph

Danny Grant’s path to NHL stardom didn’t begin in Montreal, but the seeds were planted during his brief time with the Canadiens in 1967-68. In just 22 games, he scored three goals, and despite contributing during Montreal’s successful Stanley Cup run, he remained Calder-eligible heading into the next season. A major step came over the summer when he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars along with Claude Larose in exchange for a first-round pick that became Dave Gardner.

The move proved transformative. Grant burst out of the gate with Minnesota, scoring three goals and adding three assists in his first five games. And on November 9, 1968, he delivered a defining early milestone, his first NHL hat trick, scored fittingly against the Detroit Red Wings, the team he would later join. In the North Stars’ 6-4 win, Grant found the net once in each period, including two power-play markers, showcasing the scoring touch that would come to define his career.

His first goal, scored at 8:16 of the opening frame with assists from Danny O’Shea and Bill Collins, chased Red Wings starter Roger Crozier from the game after just five shots. Detroit turned to Terry Sawchuk, but Grant wasn’t done. His second goal, at 11:54 of the middle period, stood as the game-winner, the first of 21 he would record over his NHL career. Ray Cullen played a major supporting role, assisting on two of Grant’s tallies while enjoying a five-point night of his own.

By the time the 1968-69 season wrapped up, Grant had firmly established himself as one of the league’s brightest young talents. His 34 goals and 65 points earned him the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in a tightly contested race with Oakland’s Norm Ferguson. Brad Park, Gerry Desjardins, and Andre Lacroix also received strong consideration, but it was Grant who stood tall.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Danny Grant

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. With which NHL team did Danny Grant win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year?

Minnesota North Stars
Montreal Canadiens
Detroit Red Wings
Los Angeles Kings

2. How many goals did Danny Grant score during his Calder-winning 1968-69 season?

27
34
41
52

3. Which team did Danny Grant score his first NHL hat trick against?

Boston Bruins
Oakland Seals
Detroit Red Wings
St. Louis Blues

4. Danny Grant later became a 50-goal scorer with which NHL team?

Minnesota North Stars
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers
Toronto Maple Leafs

5. Danny Grant was traded from Montreal to Minnesota in a deal involving which future first-round pick?

Pierre Mondou
Chuck Arnason
Dave Gardner
Doug Jarvis

The French Connection’s Incredible Run of Multi-Point Explosions in 1975-76

Few lines in NHL history ever blended skill, creativity, and firepower like the Buffalo Sabres’ legendary French Connection: Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, and Rene Robert. During the 1975-76 season, this trio didn’t just lead the Sabres’ offense, they drove it, combining for nine or more points in six separate games.

Buffalo finished tied for second in league scoring with Pittsburgh, trailing only the powerhouse Philadelphia Flyers. Nearly 40% of all Sabres goals came from their top unit, and on some nights, they took over completely.

A 13-Point Night Against the Blackhawks

One of their most impressive explosions came on March 4, 1976, at the Aud in Buffalo. In a 6-3 win over Chicago:

• Rene Robert: 1 goal, 4 assists

• Rick Martin: Hat trick + 1 assist (4 points), 8 shots on Tony Esposito

• Gilbert Perreault: 4 assists

Together, the trio piled up 13 total points, more than enough to overwhelm Chicago.

A Strange Twist in a 14-2 Blowout

Surprisingly, in one of Buffalo’s most lopsided wins ever, a 14-2 demolition of the Washington Capitals on December 21, 1975, the French Connection only combined for nine points.

The reason?
Rene Robert didn’t dress for the game.

Even without him:

• Rick Martin: 4 goals, 1 assist

• Gilbert Perreault: 2 goals, 2 assists

The Sabres didn’t exactly struggle for offense that night.

Ten Points vs. Toronto in a Tight Game

Their next-best outing came in a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, where the French Connection accounted for every single Buffalo goal:

• Rick Martin: Hat trick (3 goals) + 1 assist

• Gilbert Perreault: 1 goal + 3 assists

• Rene Robert: 2 assists

Only Jocelyn Guevremont and Jim Schoenfeld joined them on the scoresheet, each picking up a lone assist.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: The French Connection Line

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Which three players formed the Buffalo Sabres’ iconic French Connection line?

Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, Rene Robert
Gilbert Perreault, Don Luce, Danny Gare
Rick Martin, Rene Robert, Craig Ramsay
Gilbert Perreault, Rick Dudley, Jim Lorentz

2. In which NHL season did the French Connection produce six games with nine or more combined points?

1975-76
1973-74
1977-78
1979-80

3. Which member of the French Connection was drafted first overall in 1970?

Gilbert Perreault
Rick Martin
Rene Robert
None of them

4. Which player was known for his booming shot and became one of the NHL’s elite pure goal scorers of the 1970s?

Rick Martin
Gilbert Perreault
Rene Robert
Danny Gare

5. The French Connection’s chemistry helped lead the Sabres to which major achievement in 1975?

Their first Stanley Cup Final appearance
Their first Presidents’ Trophy
Their first division title
Their first 50-win season