With just more than 10 minutes remaining in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 7-2 blowout of the Detroit Red Wings Feb. 28, Patrick Kane fired a snipe past Detroit goaltender Thomas Greiss. But it wasn’t just any goal — it was the 400th of Kane’s career, as he became the 100th player in NHL history to reach the milestone. Most importantly, the goal certified Kane’s status as the greatest American hockey player to ever hit the ice.
From Gordie Howe to Wayne Gretzky to Sidney Crosby, Canadians have unquestionably dominated the hockey landscape for years. However, Americans have played a major role in developing the game’s popularity. Who could forget “Miracle on Ice” in 1980, which saw 13 of Team USA’s players develop an NHL career, or even this year’s upset at the World Juniors?
There have been numerous players who have tremendously repped the red, white and blue, but the greatest American hockey player of all time hails from the Windy City. Since the Blackhawks drafted Kane No. 1 overall in 2007, he has built an impressive resume and has fairly earned this title.
Kane’s resume
Kane quickly turned the Blackhawks around from one of the NHL’s worst teams to one of the most dominant. He recorded 72 points in 2007-08, his rookie season, en route to that year’s Calder Trophy. The following season, he led Chicago to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2002.
However, it was the spring of 2010 when Kane made his mark across the American hockey landscape.
The Blackhawks were playing the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, vying for their first title since 1961. Chicago had a 3-2 lead heading into Game Six, which went into overtime in Philadelphia. Fans across the Windy City were sitting at the edges of their seats, as the Blackhawks could either make history or send the series back to Chicago for the dreaded Game Seven.
Around four minutes into the first overtime, defenseman Brian Campbell gave a clear pass to Kane, who stood just outside of the bottom left faceoff circle. He dangled the puck outside of the circle, skated around the net’s edge and shot the puck past then-Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton.
For a second, no one knew the puck had entered the net except for Kane himself. He had done the unthinkable — give Chicago its first Stanley Cup in nearly half a century.
Kane then won two more Stanley Cups with Chicago in 2013 and 2015. The Blackhawks had won three in six seasons, arguably a modern-day dynasty in today’s NHL.
Individually, Kane won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2015-16, becoming the first American scoring leader in league history that season. He has nine All-Star Game appearances, three First All-Star Team selections and became the fastest U.S.-born player to reach 1,000 points in January 2020.
Kane is also no stranger to the international stage, having represented Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
The Blackhawks have slowly been on the downfall since winning their last cup in 2015, but Kane has kept the team relevant. At the age of 32, the Buffalo, New York, native is not only still in his prime but is playing some of his top hockey since Chicago’s best days. Kane has two 100+ point seasons under his belt since 2015 and was on pace for his third in 2019-20 before the pandemic cut the regular season short.
At 12-7-4, Chicago has been a pleasant surprise this season. The Blackhawks’ young talent has rose to the occasion, but Kane has led the way with a team-high 34 points in 23 games.
Throughout his career, Kane has built an impressive set of accolades while inspring young players in Chicago and across the country. All these awards and honors are a testament to his work ethic, leading the Blackhawks from worst to first.
Consistency has been a staple of Kane’s career. Even in his 14th season in the show, he has shown no signs of slowing down, and his game has only emerged each season. If the Blackhawks sustain their success, a second Hart Trophy isn’t out of the question. A Hockey Hall of Fame spot is also a virtual lock.
Kane has created a winning culture in Chicago that fans continue embracing today. These accolades alone might make him the greatest American hockey player ever, but Kane has a signature flair for the game that has helped him earn this spot.
Kane’s impact
There’s a reason why Kane has developed the nickname “Showtime.” He has a flair for creating excitement and does not shy away from the dramatic. Kane has a confidence to his game that only a handful of other players possess and some have begun emulating.
One moment that perfectly encapsulates Kane’s playing style and flair came Dec. 14, 2011. The Blackhawks were playing the Minnesota Wild, and the teams were tied 3-3 after three periods and five minutes of overtime.
With a chance to win the game via shootout, Kane was up to shoot. He touched the puck, built some momentum and deked upward of 10 times before shooting the puck past then-Wild goaltender Nicklas Backstrom to win the game.
Kane’s hockey IQ is exceptional. He has great stickhandling skills, his quickness is superb and he has amazing playmaking abilities. Along with his tendency to come up clutch, Kane is one of the few NHL players who have perfected the “Spin-O-Rama” goal, doing just that earlier this season. He arguably has the best backhand shot in the league, too.
The backhand, most notably, is one of the most difficult shots to perfect because of the agility and skill required. Like his “Spin-O-Rama” goals, not many players throughout the league can effortlessly complete these moves.
While the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup window is probably in the rearviewmirror, Kane is clearly hungry to win and elevate his teammates. He has a knack for taking his fellow players and consistently make them better.
Kane, in particular, helped develop now-New York Rangers star forward Artemi Panarin from 2015-17 and is doing just that with 23-year-old forward Alex DeBrincat right now.
Despite missing late January due to COVID-19 protocols, DeBrincat has been on fire this season with 11 goals and 14 assists. Many of that production is thanks to Kane’s dynamic, and the twosome have created some impressive game-winning plays.
Not only has Kane done it all throughout his career, but his exceptional abilities and creativeness have only bolstered his legacy. Of course, playing in Chicago — the country’s third-largest city — might give him a little more attention, but Kane is nowhere near his decline. His game is ageless.
Kane is averaging 1.478 points through 23 games this season and is on pace for nearly 83 to end the year, which would be an incredible feat given the shortened season. Even if his production regresses, he should finish among the league’s Top 10 scoring leaders if he can sustain his dominance.
All of these numbers reflect Kane’s determination and what makes him so scary on the ice — he is nowhere near finishing his prime.
Why Kane?
Kane is far from a category of his own. Many American greats including Chris Chelios, Mike Modano, Brian Leetch and Jeremy Roenick have left their own mark and are worthy of recognition.
But there’s something special about turning around a franchise from worst to first and having the confidence, leadership and swagger to do so. In February 2004, ESPN ranked the Blackhawks the worst franchise in professional sports. Kane quickly changed that in a few short years and began building an impressive legacy among fans and the team.
There’s also something special about Kane’s desire to continuously grow and find ways to learn. Despite an elite career, Kane still constantly works to improve his game and is a role model for young players across the country.
Kane has set the standard for the current generation of American hockey. Many young U.S.-born studs, such as Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Jack Hughes have built impressive resumes thus far and could have careers that mirror Kane’s.
Matthews, who is also considered a frontrunner for the Hart Trophy, has cited Kane as a childhood influence. The twosome have developed a friendly and engaging rivalry on the ice.
Aside from influencing the professionals, Kane’s presence has helped grow hockey locally in Chicagoland. There are currently 21 Illinois-born players on USHL rosters, the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by U.S. Hockey. According to the Chicago Tribune, there were never more than 35 Illinois natives who played in the league in a single season from 2000-01 to 2009-10. In eight of the 10 seasons between 2010-11 to 2019-20, there were at least 40.
With the absences of captain Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook, this season has given Kane a chance to elevate his leadership and become a vocal presence in the locker room. He has worn the ‘A’ since Seabrook’s 2019-20 season ended early, which has paid major dividends for his younger teammates. More recently, Kane has also used his platform to speak out on issues beyond the game while working to promote change.
Kane’s impact has gone far beyond the Blackhawks. He has the accolades to support his career, his playing style is exceptional and has helped blossom a new generation of young American studs.
Kane will finish his career as not only one of the greatest Blackhawks of all time but one of the league’s greatest. When it’s all said and done, Kane is the greatest American hockey player ever.
