TORONTO — Did a Viking longboat suddenly come ashore in Toronto this week?

Joining the Maple Leafs' summer workouts are defencemen Andreas Borgman, Calle Rosen and 2017’s No. 1 pick Timothy Liljegren. Also in town is Finnish forward Miro Aaltonen, via the KHL.

All might end up starting with the AHL Marlies, but other than Liljegren, they aren’t teenagers and intend to catch Mike Babcock’s eye when main camp starts in about two weeks.

“I’m still a little jet lagged, but it’s good to be here,” said Borgman, the 22-year-old rookie of the year in Sweden last season, who added 10 playoff points with league champion HV-71. “Toronto was the team that showed me they were the most (competitive). It’s a great city, a great hockey town, an honour to be here (with the Leafs’ long Swedish lineage).”

He and fellow six-footer Rosen, who had 19 points in 41 regular season games with Vaxjo, signed two-year entry-level deals, picking the Leafs over other teams, in Rosen’s case the Chicago Blackhawks.

“The greatest opportunity was here,” added Borgman, who already has a swollen cheek from a visor cut in scrimmage action. “We both came with Aaltonen earlier (this summer to see the city).”

Workouts the next few days will familiarize the Europeans with smaller North American ice.

“There are changes in your game, but I will adjust,” Borgman said. “The NHL has been my dream since I was a kid (a big fan of Niklas Kronwall hits). Now feels like a good time to come, after winning in Sweden.”

HEALTHY CLASH AT CAMP

Defenceman Andrew Nielsen knew his name was going to be on the Leafs' rookie tournament roster, but loved seeing it anyway to motivate himself for next week.

Twenty-six Leafs, including 2015 third-rounder Nielsen, will be battling with rookie teams from Montreal and Ottawa at Ricoh Coliseum Sept. 8-10. He’s been to this event a couple of times and it will be a chance to get a step up on Rosen, Borgman and older guys who won’t be playing until main camp.

“It’s one or two games to get the rust out before the big boys get there,” Nielsen said. “It will be in a rink that a lot of us (Marlies) know well.

“Competition (for jobs) is a good thing, it brings the best out of you. Having new guys here only helps that. (Borgman, Rosen and Liljegren) are good players looking to get a spot, but I’m sure me, Travis Dermott and a couple of others will have something to say about that.

“Now that there’s more guys coming to practice, you get more of a camp feel. It will be tight, but as one of the guys (management) have their eye on, I want to make it my mission to get that spot on opening night.”

PLAYERS-ONLY LEGENDS ROW

Many of the hockey people instrumental in the 100 years of Toronto’s NHL franchise never played a game.

Which has led to many discussions through the years about how Conn Smythe, Foster Hewitt, Punch Imlach and others should be honoured by today’s Leafs.

Club president Brendan Shanahan has thought about that too, but — diplomatically — says it won’t be on Legends Row, the popular statue/photo op outside the Air Canada Centre.

“The concept behind Legends Row, which was decided before I came here, was as a players bench,” Shanahan said on Tuesday as he passed through the Leafs' practice facility. “The statues there (14 by sculptor Erik Blome, counting coming additions of Frank Mahovlich, Red Kelly, Charlie Conacher and Wendel Clark) represent many great players and teams, but it’s a players bench and not the right spot for a builder or management.”

Shanahan added there’s great respect for Smythe, the team patriarch and driving force behind Maple Leaf Gardens, hockey broadcast pioneer Hewitt and four-time Stanley Cup winning GM/coach Imlach.

He was asked if they’ll be honoured at a later date in or outside the building. “That could be,” Shanahan said. “We have not decided.”

He still plans to cap Legends Row at 14 players, rather than save one space for a Leaf in this or a future generation who might distinguish himself.

ZAITSEV PLAYS CONSULTANT

If the Leafs do beat other NHL clubs to undrafted Moscow-based KHLer Igor Ozhiganov next year, thank defenceman Nikita Zaitsev.

Another Russian the Leafs wooed from overseas a year before they signed him — and who stepped into their lineup right away — Zaitsev has been enticing his countryman for next season.

“Igor asked my opinion, I told him he should sign with the Leafs,” Zaitsev said in an excerpt from a story in Sovetsky Sport. “Actually, I was with him at one of the dinners he had with the Leafs representatives (reportedly Babcock and GM Lou Lamoriello in Moscow earlier this month). I was even his interpreter. That’s just being part of the Leafs organization. Not only you play and build your career in the NHL, but you also help others.”

lhornby@postmedia.com