The tribute to Börje Salming left no one untouched.
Now William Nylander is being celebrated for a detail during the fine ceremony.
“He deserves all the respect in the world,” writes one supporter.
It was the night Toronto’s great king returned home. Börje Salming’s fight against ALS has touched the entire hockey world, and this weekend the Swede was in Toronto, the city where he spent 16 seasons, to participate in the annual Hall of Fame weekend. And the tributes to the Swede will never be forgotten.
Nylander is praised
The Toronto Maple Leafs played at home both Friday and Saturday, and both times Salming received deafening cheers, and a never-ending round of applause. Salming had a hard time holding back the tears, and he wasn’t alone. He was helped onto the ice by two other Leafs legends, Darryl Sittler and Mats Sundin, and both were visibly taken.
During Friday, Börje was celebrated together with other Hall of Fame legends, and on Saturday he was celebrated on his own, when an incredible tribute film was shown, while Börje and his family were on the ice. It was a weekend filled with tears and goosebumps, and several nice gestures. Among other things, Toronto chose to put up an all-Swedish chain in Börje’s honor, but one person who is now being celebrated a little extra after the incredible weekend is William Nylander.
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“It’s pure class”
The Swedish Toronto star was noticeably taken during the tributes to Salming, and by the Toronto fans he is now hugely praised – for a specific detail during the strong scenes. While the players hit their sticks on the ice to applaud, Nylander had taken off both his helmet and gloves to show respect, and to be able to applaud properly.
“All credit to Nylander who takes off his helmet and gloves. So nicely done,” writes a supporter.
William Nylander has often talked about the enormous importance Salming had in Toronto.
“It’s class, fantastic and sad at the same time. Incredible respect to Nylander who takes off his helmet and gloves and applauds, instead of just hitting the puck on the ice,” writes another.
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