He reached 500 goals on Jan. 8, a number that alone secures a place in hockey’s inner circle. Now, just days later, he’s standing on the edge of another summit — two points away from tying Mike Modano (1,374) for the most points by an American-born player in NHL history.
It’s a milestone that feels heavier than most, because it wasn’t supposed to be possible. Not after the hip surgery that had people around the league quietly wondering if Kane’s career had already written its final chapter. As Detroit Red Wings teammate Andrew Copp put it, “No one had ever come back from that hip.