Börje Salming Injury: How many stitches did Börje Salming have?

Börje Salming is a former Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman. Salming was knocked down in front of the Leaf’s net on November 26, 1986, late in a game between the Leafs and the Red Wings in Detroit.

Gerard Gallant of the Red Wings accidentally cut Salming’s face with his skate blade. The injury necessitated more than 200 stitches in the face for cosmetic surgery.

“An inch in another direction, and I would have been without my right eye. Or four inches further down and Gallant’s skate had hit my neck,” Borje Salming said.

Afterwards, Salming did an epic interview where he didn’t seem to care much about the injury, laughing at it instead. “After the second facial injury, I always said that there would be a third,” he said.

He then continued, laughing: “I guess I was lucky. My eye is okay. But it doesn’t look good.”

Börje Salming is best known for his many seasons with the Maple Leafs, during which he set numerous franchise records, including the most assists.

Salming became the first European-born and trained player to appear in 1,000 career NHL games on January 4, 1988.