Hall of Fame Defenceman Borje Salming Dead at 71 After Battle With ALS

Former Toronto Maple Leafs players and members of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Darryl Sittler, left to right, Borje Salming and Mats Sundin take part in a pregame ceremony prior to NHL hockey action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins, in Toronto on Nov. 11, 2022. The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn

Toronto — Hall of Fame defenceman Borje Salming, who starred for the Toronto Maple Leafs over 16 NHL seasons and was a trailblazer for Europeans who later made their mark in the world’s top pro hockey league, has died at 71 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The Maple Leafs confirmed Salming’s death Thursday in a statement.