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The King
The true story of how Börje Salming—The King—changed hockey forever, silencing critics, earning the respect of some of hockey’s toughest competitors, and becoming one of the most influential players the game has ever known.
Börje Salming was more than a Toronto Maple Leafs legend—he was a trailblazer who transformed the NHL. As the first European player to establish himself as a true star in the league, Salming shattered long-held prejudices about European hockey players and paved the way for generations of international players. His success helped create opportunities for future stars such as Mats Sundin, Peter Forsberg, and countless others who followed in his footsteps.
On the ice, Salming redefined what a defenceman could be. Combining elite offensive instincts with exceptional defensive skill, strength, and fearlessness, he brought a dynamic style to the position that influenced players for decades. Alongside Leafs greats Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald, and Mike Palmateer, Salming became the cornerstone of Toronto’s exciting teams of the 1970s, making highlight-reel plays while never backing down from the physical battles that defined the era.
When Salming died of ALS in 2022, hockey lost not only an all-time great but also one of its most beloved ambassadors. Just weeks before his passing, he delivered a powerful and emotional farewell at Scotiabank Arena, raising his arm in defiance of his disease as Leafs Nation and fans around the world paid tribute to a living legend.
In The King, Salming shares his story in his trademark humble voice, with writer Ola Liljedahl. Filled with candid memories, behind-the-scenes stories, and reflections on a remarkable life, this is the definitive portrait of a player whose courage, talent, and character left an enduring mark on hockey and everyone who knew him.
Börje Salming was more than a Toronto Maple Leafs legend—he was a trailblazer who transformed the NHL. As the first European player to establish himself as a true star in the league, Salming shattered long-held prejudices about European hockey players and paved the way for generations of international players. His success helped create opportunities for future stars such as Mats Sundin, Peter Forsberg, and countless others who followed in his footsteps.
On the ice, Salming redefined what a defenceman could be. Combining elite offensive instincts with exceptional defensive skill, strength, and fearlessness, he brought a dynamic style to the position that influenced players for decades. Alongside Leafs greats Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald, and Mike Palmateer, Salming became the cornerstone of Toronto’s exciting teams of the 1970s, making highlight-reel plays while never backing down from the physical battles that defined the era.
When Salming died of ALS in 2022, hockey lost not only an all-time great but also one of its most beloved ambassadors. Just weeks before his passing, he delivered a powerful and emotional farewell at Scotiabank Arena, raising his arm in defiance of his disease as Leafs Nation and fans around the world paid tribute to a living legend.
In The King, Salming shares his story in his trademark humble voice, with writer Ola Liljedahl. Filled with candid memories, behind-the-scenes stories, and reflections on a remarkable life, this is the definitive portrait of a player whose courage, talent, and character left an enduring mark on hockey and everyone who knew him.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 3, 2026
THE KING is the memoir of the late trail-blazing Swedish hockey player, Börje Salming. The book follows his early days as a young man in a northern mining town to his days under the bright lights of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs before retiring and moving back to Sweden to finish out his career
With Salming leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs in the summer of 1989, and my intensely delusional Leafs fandom beginning in 1993, I completely missed Börje’s time in Toronto. However, I always knew he was an incredible athlete and arguably the greatest defenceman the franchise ever had. While he doesn’t have the cups nor the mega-corporation coffee and donut chain that Tim Horton had, but Tim also didn’t have to deal with the Harold Ballard of the 70s and 80s (rather than the one of the 60s) who mismanaged the team so badly it was nearly impossible to win.
This follows much of the same style as many of the hockey-player memoirs out there, so I would find it hard to recommend it to someone who isn’t either a big Toronto Maple Leafs fan or someone who was around during Salming’s heyday and would like to know more about the struggles European players faced when coming over to the NHL. Börje had to play twice as hard and endure twice as much violence as your average hockey player given the established stars wanted to scare off any would-be hopefuls from coming across the pond to take up roster spots.
Although Salming passed away four years ago, the book was largely complete prior to his untimely death. That said, co-author Ola Liljedahl interjects from time to time throughout the book to expand upon some of Börje’s writing by either adding context or additional story details. Ola also helped finish the book alongside Salming’s family detailing Borje’s short-lived battle with ALS (I still can’t go back and watch Salming’s final appearance in Toronto without tearing up).
THE KING is a quick read that is at times both inspirational yet devastatingly brutal, especially when Salming gets into the weeds describing his plethora of injuries. Athlete memoirs can sometimes be a slog to get through as they can often fall into the trap of regurgitating game recaps, but thankfully Börje writes with more of a conversational tone thus crafting a breezy page-turner of a memoir.
With Salming leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs in the summer of 1989, and my intensely delusional Leafs fandom beginning in 1993, I completely missed Börje’s time in Toronto. However, I always knew he was an incredible athlete and arguably the greatest defenceman the franchise ever had. While he doesn’t have the cups nor the mega-corporation coffee and donut chain that Tim Horton had, but Tim also didn’t have to deal with the Harold Ballard of the 70s and 80s (rather than the one of the 60s) who mismanaged the team so badly it was nearly impossible to win.
This follows much of the same style as many of the hockey-player memoirs out there, so I would find it hard to recommend it to someone who isn’t either a big Toronto Maple Leafs fan or someone who was around during Salming’s heyday and would like to know more about the struggles European players faced when coming over to the NHL. Börje had to play twice as hard and endure twice as much violence as your average hockey player given the established stars wanted to scare off any would-be hopefuls from coming across the pond to take up roster spots.
Although Salming passed away four years ago, the book was largely complete prior to his untimely death. That said, co-author Ola Liljedahl interjects from time to time throughout the book to expand upon some of Börje’s writing by either adding context or additional story details. Ola also helped finish the book alongside Salming’s family detailing Borje’s short-lived battle with ALS (I still can’t go back and watch Salming’s final appearance in Toronto without tearing up).
THE KING is a quick read that is at times both inspirational yet devastatingly brutal, especially when Salming gets into the weeds describing his plethora of injuries. Athlete memoirs can sometimes be a slog to get through as they can often fall into the trap of regurgitating game recaps, but thankfully Börje writes with more of a conversational tone thus crafting a breezy page-turner of a memoir.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The King by Borje Salming with Ola Liljedahl, forward by Mats Sundin is the story of how Borje Salming, nicknamed The King, changed the game of hockey.
As the first European player to join the NHL, he also changed how defense was played and played with and against, some major legends in hockey.
I reveived a advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
I enjoyed reading the forward by legend Mats Sundin and reading all the inside stories. The parties, the fights and the notable names you catch along the way. As a hockey lover, and leafs fan I loved hearing about Borje's road to becoming an NHL star, and love how he seemed to enjoy himself and have alot of fun along the way. Its unfortunate that he lost his battle to ALS and isn't here to see the success of this book, but I am glad he was able to record his story before it was too late. If you love hockey, the Leafs or just love reading success stories then this book is for you!
This book hits shelves November 3rd 2026
As the first European player to join the NHL, he also changed how defense was played and played with and against, some major legends in hockey.
I reveived a advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
I enjoyed reading the forward by legend Mats Sundin and reading all the inside stories. The parties, the fights and the notable names you catch along the way. As a hockey lover, and leafs fan I loved hearing about Borje's road to becoming an NHL star, and love how he seemed to enjoy himself and have alot of fun along the way. Its unfortunate that he lost his battle to ALS and isn't here to see the success of this book, but I am glad he was able to record his story before it was too late. If you love hockey, the Leafs or just love reading success stories then this book is for you!
This book hits shelves November 3rd 2026
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews