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The Toronto Maple Leafs Deep Rooted History with Sweden

By Jeremy Ridgewell

TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 20: Banners depicting retired Maple Leafs stars Borje Salming and Mats Sundin hang in the rafters prior to action the Dallas Stars and the Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 20, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Stars 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 20: Banners depicting retired Maple Leafs stars Borje Salming and Mats Sundin hang in the rafters prior to action the Dallas Stars and the Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 20, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Stars 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are in Sweden this week and will play two games there. First, they will play the Detroit Red Wings on November 17th and then the Minnesota Wild on November 19th.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a deep-rooted history with players from Sweden. From Borje Salming to Mats Sundin to William Nylander. Sweden has produced some memorable Leafs players.

Since the first appearance of Borje Salming and Inge Hammarstrom in the 1973-74 season, the Leafs have welcomed Swedish players with open arms. Evidence of this was on full display when the Leafs honored Salming in November 2022, shortly before his passing.

Leafs head coach elected to have an all Swedish lineup to start the game. He started William Nylander, Pierre Engvall, Calle Jarnkrok, Timothy Liljegren, Rasmus Sandon, and goaltender Erik Kallgren.

Many Swedish players have come and gone since 1973. Some had better careers than others, but all understood the importance of the history shared between Sweden and the Leafs. Here is a closer look at some of the more memorable Swedish players to wear a Leafs jersey.

Toronto Maple Leafs Top Five Swedish Players

5) Inge Hammarstrom

Inge Hammarstrom spent five seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1973 to 1977. During his time with the Leafs, Hammarstrom registered 85 goals and 82 assists for 167 points in 292 games. At 26 years old, he came to North America with Borje Salming and joined the Leafs for the 1973-74 season. He played 65 games for the St. Louis Blues in the 1978-79 season before retiring at 31.

(Stats from hockey-reference.com)

4) Jonas Hoglund

Jonas Hoglund only played in the NHL for seven seasons. His final four seasons were with the Leafs. During his time with the Leafs, Hoglund registered 78 goals and 106 assists for 184 points in 325 games. For his career, Hoglund recorded 117 goals and 145 assists for 262 points in 545 games.

3) William Nylander

William Nylander is a Canadian-born Swedish player. His father is former NHL player Michael Nylander, who was playing for the Calgary Flames when William was born.

William Nylander is one of the Leafs top players and is currently on a 15-game point streak to start the 2023-24 season. So far this season, Nylander has 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 15 games. He now has 187 goals and 265 assists for 452 career points in 536 games with the Leafs.

2) Borje Salming

Borje Salming is the Toronto Maple Leafs greatest defenseman. Although he never won a cup, his longevity and point totals speak volumes about how great he was. Salming registered 148 goals and 620 assists for 768 points in 1099 games over 16 seasons with the Leafs.

He’s first in franchise history for assists, third all-time in games played, and fourth all-time in points.

1) Mats Sundin

Mats Sundin spent 13 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He spent 11 of those seasons as the Leafs captain. During his time with the Leafs, Sundin registered 420 goals and 567 assists for 987 points in 981 games. He leads the franchise in goals and points.

Next. Leafs Goalie Prospect Enjoying Hot Streak. dark

He is second in franchise history for assists behind fellow Swede, Borje Salming.

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