Patrick Kane Sets Sights On 2026 Olympics

Patrick Kane was caught up in the excitement of Team USA’s trip to the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-off.

At least, he was as excited as he could be watching early games from his hotel room in the Mexican resort city of Cabo San Lucas.

“You know, in Cabo, it’s sunny out, and I’m sitting in my hotel room watching hockey,” Kane told reporters after the Detroit Red Wings’ first practice after the break.

Kane’s thoughts on USA’s tournament effort carry more weight than most because he is always in the argument for the unofficial title of top player in American hockey history.

Impressive Resume

He’s approaching 500 career NHL goals. He boasts three Stanley Cup championships, an Olympic silver medal, a Calder Trophy, an Art Ross scoring championship, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Hart Trophy. His resume is hard to compete against.

That’s why Team USA general manager Bill Guerin came to see Patrick Kane to tell him he wouldn’t be on the 4 Nations Team. The respect for Kane and his competitiveness is unwavering.

“I think this year I didn’t play well enough to be picked for this team,” Kane said. “So, I mean, it’s not like I’m blaming anyone or anything besides myself.”

Kane says watching the tournament on television has been “tough.”

“You definitely want to be there and you feel like you’re missing out on some great hockey and a great opportunity too,” Kane said. “So, it is what it is. I mean, personally, you feel like, you start looking back, I mean, we missed nine years of it, right? So, like, those were, the first four, five, six years of those nine years are some of my best hockey I played in my life, so obviously you think about those opportunities that were missed, whether it was 18 Olympics or 22 Olympics or not having the World Cup at all.”

Waving the Flag

But his absence from the American team doesn’t make him any less excited about the possibility of a U.S. win Thursday against Canada.

“It’s been so fun to watch,” Kane said. “It’s been fun keeping tabs on it. And obviously a huge game on Thursday night.”

Kane was particularly happy for Detroit captain Dylan Larkin who netted the game-winner last Thursday in USA’s 3-1 against Canada.

“It seemed like he started kind of down there in the lineup and not playing as much the first game and then when he gets the opportunity, the chance, he’s going to play well and do all he can with his opportunity,” Kane said. ” So I thought he played great that game and had a couple more chances as well. I think he hit the post and kind of had like an open net and then to see him scoring the two on one and the excitement and just how big of a goal that was, it was cool to see. Very happy for him.”

At 36, Patrick Kane isn’t considering that his international playing career has to be over. He’s thinking that playing for USA at the 2026 Olympics would be an “amazing opportunity.”

Said Kane: “You want to put your best foot forward, whether it’s the rest of this year or the start of next year, and give yourself a chance.”