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Top 10 Best UFA Signings in Toronto Maple Leafs History

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 15: Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares #91 looks on against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 15: Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares #91 looks on against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL: Borje Salming #21 of the Toronto Maple Leafs .  (Photo by Graig Abel Collection/Getty Images))
TORONTO, ON – APRIL: Borje Salming #21 of the Toronto Maple Leafs .  (Photo by Graig Abel Collection/Getty Images)) /

#1. Borje Salming

It’s hard to remember that Borje Salming was actually a UFA signing, as the Leafs never drafted him.

The undrafted defenseman from Kiruna, Sweden is the greatest defenseman to ever play for the Maple Leafs.

Salming was a Leaf for 16 seasons and is looked at as the pioneer for Sweedish defenseman after him, like Erik Karlsson and Nicklas Lidstrom for example.

During Salming’s career as a Leaf, he was a point-producing machine. Salming had five seasons with 60 or more points and had a career-high 78 points during the 1976-77 season.

The 1977-78 season was the closest chance the Leafs had to winning a Stanley Cup since their victory in 1967.

Led by Salming on defense and Darryl Sittler and Lanny McDonald up-front, the Leafs lost to one of the greatest Montreal Canadiens teams ever assembled in the Conference Finals that year, who would end up winning the Stanley Cup.

With 1148 games played and 787 points, Salming was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998. Not only that, but he was selected as one of the ‘100 Greatest NHL Players’.

Next. Nicknames for Every Toronto Maple Leafs Player. dark

Salming is not only the best defenseman to ever play for the Leafs, but arguably be the best undrafted player in NHL history.

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