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Patrick Kane passed Mike Modano for the most NHL points by an American-born player. Dave Reginek / NHLI via Getty Images
DETROIT — To an entire generation of hockey fans, Patrick Kane was already the greatest American player in NHL history. Now, he has the record to prove it.
Kane assisted on a Ben Chiarot goal midway through the second period of the Detroit Red Wings’ 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals for his 1,375th career point, passing Mike Modano for the most ever by an American-born player.
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“It’s hard to really grasp how special it is,” Kane’s longtime teammate Alex DeBrincat said. “I think a lot of people have known he’s going to hit it, and one of the best American players to ever play. We knew that before tonight, but it is special to pass Modano, and I think he’s been working hard for it. He deserves it.”
In what has been a year of milestones for Kane — who earlier this month became the 50th player in NHL history to score 500 goals, and the fifth American-born player to do so — the Red Wings winger said earlier this season that this marker was the one he considered the biggest.
“I was just a young kid from Buffalo who tried to maybe play hockey and enjoy it, and maybe get a college scholarship or something like that,” Kane said in November. “You never think — like I remember at my age group, comparing myself to some of the kids in my age, and I just felt like they were so much better than me, right? And as time goes on, whether it’s getting opportunities or take advantage of playing in different situations … you get chances to do some pretty special things.
“So, (I’ve) been pretty fortunate with that, but to be up there on that list would be pretty cool, just given the amount of players that have played the game from the U.S.”
Now, he’s atop that list. Hockey Hall of Famer Brett Hull had 1,391 career points and represented Team USA internationally, but was born in Belleville, Ontario. And with 27 games remaining this season, Kane is just 17 points from surpassing that number, too.
“Modano was a guy I loved to watch,” Kane said. “Just the jersey flapping and (the) speed he had, the swag he played with was fun for a young, offensive player to watch.”
Modano, who finished his career with the Red Wings in 2011 after playing his first 20 years for the Minnesota North Stars and Dallas Stars, attended the Red Wings vs. Minnesota Wild game in St. Paul, Minn., on Jan. 22, when Kane was still two points away from tying his record. A Livonia, Mich., native, Modano told The Athletic he plans to attend the ceremony in Detroit when Kane is honored.
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The record-setting point came on a mid-second-period play in which Kane found DeBrincat, who set up a Chiarot point blast. It briefly appeared Kane had set the record early in the first period Thursday, but a would-be DeBrincat power-play goal (with Kane assisting) was called back for offside.
“Special moment,” Kane said. “Pretty crazy the way you think you have it, and then it comes back for offside. I don’t think many of us knew it was offside on the ice. … But, you know, nice to get another chance at it, and great play all around. I mean, (Andrew Copp) pulling up, hitting me with some speed, hitting Cat, pulling up, hitting the late guy. Copper gets to the net, and a great shot by Benny. So, it was a really great all-around play.”
His record comes less than three years after Kane was unsure whether he would be able to continue playing, having undergone hip resurfacing surgery in 2023. There was little precedent for a successful recovery, but Kane has returned and remained highly productive. He has 138 points in 162 games since joining Detroit.
The No. 1 pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, Kane spent the first 16 seasons of his NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he won the Stanley Cup three times, in 2010, 2013 and 2015, and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2013. He won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2016 and is perhaps the best pure playmaker of his era.
Kane has twice represented the United States in the Olympics, in 2010 and 2014, winning a silver medal in 2010.
“He’s an American icon,” DeBrincat said after Kane scored his 500th career goal. “He’s the best to ever do it.”
Kane’s 19-year NHL career has been spent entirely with Original Six franchises, all in the United States: the Blackhawks from 2007-2023, a brief stint with the New York Rangers after being traded there late in the 2022-2023 season, and the Red Wings since 2023.
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“I think he’s still got it,” DeBrincat said. “He’s still one of the smartest players I’ve ever played with, and obviously the skill is there. I think as long as he wants to go, he’s going to be able to go, and be a difference-maker in the league for a while.”
— Michael Russo contributed to this story.
Max Bultman has covered the Red Wings for The Athletic since 2018. He previously was a general assignment writer in Detroit and is a 2017 graduate of the University of Michigan. Follow Max on Twitter @m_bultman
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