Hockeytown rejoiced when Patrick Kane re-signed with the Detroit Red Wings last week. He may not be the MVP he once was with the Chicago Blackhawks, but Kane is still a tremendous player who brings excitement to a dire Detroit fan base.
He had 21 goals and 38 assists for 59 points in 72 games last season, and the Wings will look for him to do more of the same in his age-37 season.
If Kane stays healthy and maintains that same level of production, then he could break a few National Hockey League (NHL) records this year.
Of American-born NHL players, Showtime currently ranks second all-time in assists with 851, behind only Phil Housley (894). This means Kane needs 44 assists this year (six more than in 2024-25) to break the record.
Six more assists from one year to the next can be a lot to ask for a player of Kane’s age. However, he has proven to have plenty left in the tank, and the record being right there might be an extra source of motivation.
Kane is also closing in on breaking the record for most points by an American in NHL history
He sits third with 1,343, with Mike Modano (1,374) and Brett Hull (1,391) ahead of him.
Needing just 32 points to pass Modano, an injury or a different catastrophic event would have to happen for Kane not to reach second this season.
Catching Hull may be a little more interesting, but it is very doable, as Kane should reach the 49 points necessary to break the record. In addition to having 59 points last year, Kane had 47 in 2023-24 in Detroit despite playing just 50 games.
In the worst-case scenario, Kane will re-sign with the Wings again next offseason and break both records in 2026-27, further cementing his case as the greatest American NHL player ever.
Assuming the records will soon belong to him, Kane will hold onto them for a while, but a few younger Americans could eventually surpass him. Most notably, Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, and Jack Eichel are within striking distance if they continue to play at a high level and have the career longevity Kane has enjoyed.
Kane is also closing in on the 500-goal milestone with 492 goals
It is almost certain that Kane will score at least eight goals this season, which will make him the sixth American in NHL history with 500 goals. Along with Hull and Modano, Keith Tkachuk, Jeremy Roenick, and Joe Mullen are the others to ever reach the mark.
Kane will not come close to breaking Hull’s record of 741 goals. With a couple more good years, though, he could make up the 47 goals needed to pass Tkachuk (538), Roenick (513), and Mullen (502) for third on the all-time list.
It will be an honor to watch Showtime don the Winged Wheel again in 2025-26. Even if the team is not yet contending for the Stanley Cup, Detroit fans should still appreciate watching Kane and the history he will create this year.
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