Salming was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame back in 1996 after a storied career as a defenseman.
In 1148 career games, Salming had 787 career points (150 G, 637 A) and a +170 +/-.
Why does his clearance to the US mean so much? Well, Borje Salming is in an extremely difficult battle with ALS at the moment. There were reports that his health was declining and that they didn't know if he'd be able to make the trip to the US. This is huge, and means his health is still substantial throughout his battle.
After a visit with doctors, Salming was cleared to travel to the US to partake in the Hall of Fame festivities.