DETROIT (AP) 鈥� Patrick Kane smiled. The wait was over.
Kane became the highest-scoring United States-born player in NHL history, passing Mike Modano with an assist for on Thursday night for the against the Washington Capitals.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to have it over with in some ways and worry about the rest of the season,鈥� Kane said after Washington’s .
Kane passed the puck from the boards to Alex DeBrincat in the left circle, and DeBrincat set up Ben Chiarot for a tying goal from the point midway through the second period.
Kane flashed a grin and hugged Chiarot.
He was surrounded by teammates, including those who emptied the bench to join a brief celebration. As Kane skated away, the spotlight was put on him and he raised his stick to acknowledge the crowd while appearing to be on the verge of tears.
His likeness was shown on the videoboards at Little Caesars Arena with an American flag in the background and the number 1,375.
Modano held the mark for 18-plus years. Kane reached the milestone a couple of months after turning 37, while Modano was 40 when he scored a goal to register point No. 1,374, passing Phil Housley.
鈥淚 knew at an early age in your career you would be the one chasing this number down and here we are,鈥� Modano said in a prerecorded message played on the videoboards. 鈥淐ontinue on and make this number harder for the next guy.”
Kane has been one of the faces of American hockey since getting taken with the first pick in the 2007 draft by Chicago. He helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup three times from 2010-15 as a co-headliner of one of the most successful runs since the league鈥檚 salary cap era began in 鈥�05.
鈥淲hen you think of USA Hockey, he鈥檚 one of the first players that comes to mind, if not the first player,鈥� fellow American Jack Eichel said. 鈥淪uch a great representation of USA Hockey and us Americans 鈥� something for a lot of the guys that came after him to strive to be, myself included.鈥�
U.S.-born defenseman Charlie McAvoy recalled watching Kane on those long runs 鈥渄o stuff that at the time people didn鈥檛 do.鈥�
鈥淗is type of player just transcends now, when back then there wasn鈥檛 anybody that was really doing that,鈥� U.S.-born defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. 鈥淗e changed the game of hockey. He鈥檚 an absolute legend. And it鈥檚 great that he鈥檚 an American.鈥�
Earlier this month, and fifth American to score 500 goals, following Keith Tkachuk, Jeremy Roenick and Joe Mullen. Brett Hull, a dual citizen who was born in Canada and played internationally for the U.S., had 741 goals and 1,391 points.
鈥淗e鈥檚 well on his way to being the best USA player of all time,鈥� countryman Jack Hughes said.
Kane won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 鈥�07-08, the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2013 and the Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP in 2015-16, when he also led the league in scoring.
鈥淪uch an iconic player, just played with such passion,鈥� said Tage Thompson, who鈥檚 a first-time U.S. Olympian this year. 鈥淰ery enthusiastic, loved scoring goals, loved making plays.鈥�
Kane’s slick hands more than made up for him being on the smaller side at 5-foot-10 and under 180 pounds.
鈥淗e鈥檚 maybe got the best highlight reel of all time,鈥� Hughes said. 鈥淛ust as a kid, you watch all of his videos and everything, and you鈥檙e like, that鈥檚 the guy you want to be just because of how skilled he is.鈥�
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Whyno reported from New York.
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