Patrick Kane didn’t need a spotlight to make history Tuesday night. No pregame ceremony.
No dramatic goal horn. Just a vintage Kane moment - a slick assist that looked routine to the untrained eye, but meant everything in the record books.
With that helper on Alex DeBrincat’s goal late in the Red Wings’ 3-1 loss to the Kings, Kane notched career point No. 1,374 - tying him with Mike Modano for the most points by a U.S.-born player in NHL history. Modano hit that mark at 40.
Kane’s still a few months into 37. And if you know anything about Kane, you know he’s not done.
This is more than just another line in the box score. It’s a milestone that stretches far beyond Detroit’s locker room.
Yes, Kane’s resurgence with the Red Wings has been one of the most compelling storylines of the season - not just a feel-good comeback, but a legitimate offensive engine. He’s still seeing the game in slow motion, still threading passes through windows that barely exist, still making defenders guess wrong more often than not.
But this moment? This is bigger than just Kane, bigger than the Wings, even bigger than the game that night in Los Angeles. This is a landmark for American hockey.
For years, Mike Modano was the gold standard. The original American superstar.
The guy who made it normal for kids in Texas, California, Michigan - anywhere, really - to dream of the NHL not as some far-off fantasy, but as a real path. He wasn’t just a point producer; he was a cultural shift.
A franchise cornerstone in a non-traditional market. A symbol of what U.S.-born players could become.
Now, Patrick Kane has caught him. And soon enough, he’ll pass him.
This is the generational handoff. Modano laid the foundation. Kane built the house.
Kane didn’t just thrive in a league long dominated by Canadian talent - he redefined what it meant to be an American star. The flair.
The vision. The street-hockey creativity that somehow translated to the highest level.
He wasn’t afraid to try what others wouldn’t. And more often than not, it worked.
The résumé speaks for itself: First American to win the Hart Trophy. First to win the Conn Smythe.
Three-time Stanley Cup champ. The face of a Chicago Blackhawks dynasty that turned the franchise into a powerhouse.
And now, statistically, he’s right there with Modano - the man who made the dream possible for so many.
Kane’s impact goes beyond numbers. He changed how American players are viewed - not just as contributors, but as headliners.
Today, U.S.-born skaters are scoring champs, captains of Original Six teams, Winter Classic icons. They’re not novelties anymore.
They’re stars. And Kane helped make that happen.
So when Kane finally picks up that next point - whether it’s another pinpoint pass or a wrister from the slot - it won’t just be a moment for the Red Wings. It’ll be a moment for USA Hockey. For every kid who grew up watching the red, white and blue and believed they could be next.
From rinks in Minnesota and Michigan to backyard ponds in New York and roller leagues in California, this is a milestone that echoes. Modano was the pioneer.
Kane is the revolution. And with that next point, the torch officially changes hands - not in a retirement ceremony, but in real time, with Kane still out there, still producing, still shaping the game.
One more point. One more glimpse of brilliance. And a new chapter in American hockey history begins.