Why Börje Salming’s commemorative watch will honour his legacy and help veteran NHLers

The Salming 1148, commemorating the late Leaf's total NHL games, was the Hall of Famer's last project.

Published Aug 07, 2026  •  Last updated 19 minutes ago  •  4 minute read

Pictured with the Salming watch are, from left to right, Teresa Salming, Anders Salming, Glenn Healy (head of NHL Alumni), Rasmus Salming and Bianca Salming. Photo by Lance Hornby /Toronto Sun

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Call it irony that Börje Salming now has a fancy wristwatch in his name, a man whose value to the Maple Leafs and the city of Toronto could not be defined by a game-night clock. 

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A player’s shifts and ice time were not officially recorded by the NHL in the 1970s and early ‘80s when Salming was pressed into every situation for an often brutal team. 

“For every moment Borje wasn’t on the ice, the Leafs were in a state of liability,” said Glenn Healy, former goalie, TV studio analyst and now head of the NHL Alumni. “He was a thoroughbred who could’ve easily played 40-plus minutes a game and been like (Stanley Cup winners) Nick Lidstrom, Brian Leetch and Bobby Orr.” 

Healy joined Salming’s four children at the Hockey Hall of Fame Thursday night for the unveiling of the Salming 1148, that limited issue matching his NHL games played. There are many Leafs and Toronto-centric features such as a CN Tower for a second hand, a king’s crown (Sweden’s emblem and his Leafs nickname), his number 21, an autograph on the back and a design nod to the indigenous Sami of northern Sweden on the band.  A tiny perfect replica puck at the side moves the minute and hour hands. 

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HOW HAVE ALUMNI PREVIOUSLY RECOGNIZED SALMING?

The Alumni created the Courage Award in Salming’s name as a European pioneer in 1973 and the abuse that went with it, given to an exemplary overseas player after the defenceman’s death from ALS in 2022. When his kids – Anders, Teresa, Rasmus, Bianca – and Mats Kullenberg, CEO of Salming Watches, were given the first numbered timepiece, they handed it off to Healy, who donated it to the Hall for placement in Salming’s honoured member showcase. 

The first 100 watches will be made available to NHL Alumni, with an option to match one to their number, such as 99 for Wayne Gretzky. Retail price for the public, who’ve made more than 2,200 enquiries already, is $12,000 Cdn, with a portion to the Alumni for health care of veterans in Europe and ALS research.  

WHAT’S BEHIND THE WATCH PROJECT?

Salming had many projects on the go when he finally retired from playing at age 42: protein drinks, floorball leagues, underwear and hockey schools. But in 2020 he and long-time business partner Kellenberg developed the watch idea as Salming loved wearing them, in part to time his athletic daughter, Bianca. But it only reached the design stage before COVID delayed production and then Salming took ill.  

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“The (kids) wanted me to pursue it and I wanted them to be part of it,” Kullenberg said.  

“When they first saw it, they said ‘This is really Dad,’ and I started crying.” 

Borje was insistent on the black and silver tones and all involved noted that 9 p.m. in North America is 21:00 in Sweden. Kullenberg vows the release will not go beyond 1,148 no matter how big demand gets, as it’s not a commercial project. 

Borje Salming now has a wristwatch in his name, the Salming 1148. (Lance Hornby/Toronto Sun)

WHAT DOES SALMING’S FAMILY THINK?

Teresa, who was raised in Toronto with fond memories of the wives and families’ room at Maple Leaf Gardens, senses his spirit around town every time she returns. 

“Last time I was at the Hall, his plaque (faced away) from the main stage, but without me asking, tonight he’s looking down at us,” she said with a smile.

“Anders and I got here a few days early and we both hung around with old friends from Etobicoke or the Ossington area. The most beautiful thing, more so since Dad passed, is the family feeling of the Leafs, the NHL and realizing how important he was as a person here. 

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“The watch doesn’t scream at you. It’s quiet, northern Swedish. Like Dad. Now we’re all carrying that (legacy).” 

Anders, who traded his office job to become a Stockholm firefighter, also praised the Scandinavian Watch Company and the Swedish studio Superlab for the final product. 

“Simple and clean, but still tough and has style, all the elements he had.” 

Borje still sits atop the Leaf career assist list with 620 and most points by a defenceman (678). He’s also first in various on-ice categories for even-strength and power-play goals scored since such stats were kept by the league. 

Healy grew up watching Salming in the GTA, played against him in later years and befriended him afterward. 

“This Hall is filled with his legacy,” Healy said of the ground Salming broke and the abuse he took as a foreigner from physical foes such as Philadelphia and the New York teams. “Our winners of the Salming Award – Nicklas Lidstrom, Jari Kurri, Mats Sundin and Esa Tikkanen – reflect that. 

“We live about 4,400 weeks; some like Borje and (fellow NHLer and ALS victim) Mark Kirton don’t get extra days. So do you want to live those weeks angry and unhappy, or be with the right people? I’d take my 4,400 weeks with No. 21.” 

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