Patrick Kane Becomes NHL’s All-Time Leading American Scorer in Historic Night for Red Wings
While the Chicago Blackhawks were enduring a tough outing against the Penguins, a familiar face from their golden era was carving out a moment for the history books - this time in a different sweater.
Patrick Kane, now skating for the Detroit Red Wings, officially became the highest-scoring American-born player in NHL history on Thursday night. The milestone came midway through the second period against the Washington Capitals, when Kane notched the secondary assist on Ben Chiarot’s game-tying goal at 9:52. That helper gave Kane 1,375 career points, nudging him past Hall of Famer Mike Modano for the top spot among U.S.-born skaters.
It was a moment that stopped the game - and for good reason. The entire Red Wings bench emptied onto the ice to celebrate with Kane, a gesture that spoke volumes about the respect he commands not just in Detroit, but across the league. In the stands, the cameras found his family - parents, sisters, and his five-year-old son, Patrick Kane III - all beaming as they watched a legacy cemented in real time at Little Caesars Arena.
As the crowd roared, the Red Wings played a tribute video on the Jumbotron featuring Modano himself, who congratulated Kane and acknowledged his impact on the game in the United States. It was a passing of the torch from one American icon to another - a classy nod to a player who’s not just extended the lineage of great American hockey talent, but elevated it.
Kane’s journey to this moment has been nothing short of extraordinary. Drafted first overall by the Blackhawks in 2007, he quickly became the face of a franchise that had been desperate for a spark.
Over 16 seasons in Chicago, Kane piled up 1,225 points - 446 goals and 779 assists - in 1,161 games. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
He was the engine behind a Blackhawks dynasty that captured three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013, 2015), and he earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2013. His 2015-16 campaign was one for the ages, as he claimed both the Art Ross Trophy (league scoring leader) and the Hart Trophy (league MVP), becoming the first American to win the latter in nearly three decades.
In 2017, during the NHL’s centennial celebrations, Kane was named one of the league’s 100 Greatest Players - a fitting honor for a player whose blend of vision, hands, and hockey IQ has made him must-watch TV for nearly two decades. Whether it was a no-look pass on the rush, a toe-drag through traffic, or a game-breaking goal in overtime, Kane delivered moments that defined an era.
Now 37, Kane’s still producing - still making plays that matter. And while he’s wearing red and white these days, his legacy remains deeply tied to the Blackhawks and the city of Chicago, where he’ll always be remembered as “Showtime.”
But on this night, the spotlight belonged solely to the milestone. With point No.
1,375, Kane didn’t just pass Modano - he etched his name atop the list of American NHL greats. And while many already considered him the best to ever do it among U.S.-born players, now the numbers back it up.
Patrick Kane: the greatest American to ever lace up a pair of skates in the National Hockey League. And now, officially, the most prolific point producer this country has ever seen.