The man who put European players on the NHL map didn't even have the League on his radar when he was breaking into pro hockey in his native Sweden.

"You know what?" Borje Salming said. "Where I come from (Jukkasjärvi) is in the north of Sweden. I came down from there and I played two years in the second division (with Kiruna AIF) and then I came down and played in the top league (for Brynas). I didn't really have time to think about the National Hockey League.

For more of Borje Salming's 100 Greatest Players bio, please click here.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• Best Defenseman at EJC-A (1969)
• WEC-A All-Star Team (1973)
• NHL Second All-Star Team (1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980)
• Canada Cup All-Star Team (1976)
• NHL First All-Star Team (1977)
• Swedish World All-Star Team (1989)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (1976, 1977, 1978)
• Signed as a free agent by Toronto, May 12, 1973.
• Signed as a free agent by Detroit, June 12, 1989.