With a two-goal performance against the Vancouver Canucks on January 8, Red Wings forward Patrick Kane became just the fifth American-born player to score 500 goals in the NHL.
This massive milestone provides even more proof of Kane’s greatness on the ice. But is he the greatest American hockey player of all time? Let’s discuss.
The Early Years in Chicago
Still going strong at 37 years old, Patrick Kane has put together an incredible career spanning 21 years and more than 1,300 points. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Kane was selected first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Teaming up with fellow phenom Jonathan Toews, Kane wasted no time making his mark in the Windy City. He led all first-year players in points (72) during his rookie season and won the 2008 Calder Trophy, but that was only the beginning. Despite his lack of size (5’10”, 175 lbs), Kane put up 70+ points in each of his first four seasons in Chicago.
A strong skater with great hands and a quick release, Kane was a key figure in the Blackhawks’ return to relevancy. After reaching the postseason just once over a 10-year stretch from 1998 to 2008, Chicago quickly transformed into a perennial Cup contender. With Kane as one of the team’s top playmakers, the Blackhawks qualified for the playoffs the next nine straight years, winning three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013, 2015) along the way.
The Detroit Revival
In 2023, coming off the least productive year of his career, many executives around the league felt that Kane’s age had finally caught up to him. His contract with the Blackhawks had just expired and the veteran forward underwent a major hip resurfacing procedure in the offseason.
With most teams questioning whether he could still contribute at a high level, Kane hit the free agent market looking for another opportunity. Choosing to prioritize a full recovery, he took his time and remained unsigned through the early part of the 2023-24 season.
Kane ultimately signed a short-term deal with the Red Wings, a young, inexperienced team looking for some much-needed veteran leadership. Despite the questions surrounding his health, Detroit quickly deployed Kane on the team’s top line, and the returns were immediate. His skating and puck control remained elite, scoring 47 points in just 50 games played.
Now in his third season with Detroit, Kane continues to be a key offensive contributor for the Red Wings with 26 points (8 goals, 18 assists) in 30 games played. His leadership has had a clear impact on the culture in Detroit, with the Red Wings currently sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference standings just past the midway point of the season.
Red, White and Kane
When you compare Kane’s career accomplishments to some of the best US-born hockey players of all time, there’s no question that he belongs in the conversation as one of the greatest Americans to ever lace up the skates.
As a playmaker on the ice, few Americans in NHL history can even come close to what he’s accomplished over the course of his career. Kane has always relied on his stick handling and creativity to create for his teammates, evident by his 869 career assists. Now just 25 shy of NHL legend Phil Housley, it’s only a matter of time until he breaks the record for assists by a US-born player.
Kane’s all-time numbers continue to climb, even now in the twilight of his career. With 500 goals, he’s quickly closing in on the top spot on the NHL’s all-time scoring list among American-born players. His 1,369 career points only trail Mike Modano (1,374) and Brett Hull (1,391), with Kane likely to surpass both legendary Americans by season’s end.
While Modano and Hull were elite players who dominated during their time in the NHL, it’s tough to compete with Kane’s career résumé. His three Stanley Cups are more than both players, with Kane playing a pivotal role on all three Cup-winning teams. It also includes the 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy as the year’s top playoff performer, something only three other Americans have ever accomplished.
The hardware doesn’t end there, with Kane racking up several major individual honours over the years. In addition to his Calder and Conn Smythe trophies, Kane has also won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top scorer, as well as the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award as league’s MVP.
He’s an eight-time All-Star, owns the record for most multi-point games and most 20-goal seasons by a US-born player and was named to the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players list as part of the league’s centennial anniversary. Having accomplished all of this and still going, now deep into his 30s, it’s getting increasingly difficult to deny Kane the title of greatest American-born hockey player of all time.