Maple Leafs Magazine Project #7

Here's two nice covers from the late 1970's featuring "The King" Borje Salming. The first one is an Action Sports Hockey magazine issued in February 1978 while Salming was in the midst of his fourth of six consecutive All-Star seasons. The previous year, 76/77 he was named to the First All-Star team after producing 66 assists and 78 games. Salming finished second to Larry Robinson for the Norris Trophy by a vote of 186 to 157. The King's season was so good that he even finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting (the highest defenceman) and also placed fifth in voting for the Lady Byng Trophy.
The second magazine is another Action Sports Hockey dated March 1979 again with Salming on the cover. This season, Salming put up 73 points in 78 games and was again named a Second Team All-Star. He also finished seventh in Hart Trophy voting, the second and final time he received votes as Most Valuable Player in the league.
Inside this issue there is also an article on Leaf goaltender Mike Palmateer being one of the top goalies in the NHL. In fact he placed third in All-Star voting behind only Ken Dryden and Chico Resch. Palmateer also placed fifth in Hart Trophy voting on the strength of a 2.96 GAA and .909 Save Pct. The Maple Leaf goalie actually topped the NHL in a stat called Goals Saved Above Average with 48.84. This mark still stands as the fifteenth best season all-time. Sadly, 1978/79 would prove to be Palmateer's last great season as knee issues limited his ability and he played only five additional seasons.

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