Smith: Showtime’s Impact Felt Far Beyond 500 Goals

DETROIT — With his two goals on the night, Patrick Kane is just the 50th player in NHL history to reach the mark of 500 goals in a career, and one of a select few to do so in a Red Wings uniform. It was a busy, exciting night for the Red Wings, and a lot of that excitement stemmed from a player who, despite his “showy” nickname, seemed the quietest. Kane’s son “Trick” was in the audience tonight and joined him in the locker room post game to celebrate the occasion.

“I’m just kind of relieved to get it over with, to be honest… Coming in tonight at 498 and scoring one in the first, and you know, I don’t usually play when the net’s empty, so it was cool to get that opportunity.” Said Kane.

It was a shaky first period for the Red Wings, with Detroit spending much of the first ten minutes of the game in their own zone. However, Kane’s goal to reach 499 at the end of the period had the Red Wings sensing this could be a big night, and the crowd cheering as if they’d already won the game. But it was his second goal, an empty netter with just under four minutes left in the third period, that just about blew the roof off the building.

Crowd Went Wild

Watching Kane score from the media level in the rafters, one couldn’t help but grin (and maybe let a cheer out that’s usually frowned upon when you’re standing above the broadcasters with hot mics) as the crowd erupted into a roar that would have you swearing they’d packed the arena in the final frame of play just for that moment. And it wasn’t just the fans who were cheering for the veteran when he got on ice. In the locker room, teammate Alex DeBrincat summed up the evening’s emotional tone:

“You know, [he’s] such a great teammate and he’s really helped us all out through different parts and making the team better… It’s just a special moment for all of us. We got some young guys that got to witness this, and some guys that have been around forever that maybe have never witnessed this.”

DeBrincat has had a front row seat to a lot of Kane’s success as he trends towards being one of the historical best American born players. From his time in Chicago all the way until now with the Red Wings, DeBrincat has played opposite Kane almost his entire career, getting playfully ribbed by the NHL star in his after first getting drafted.

“I remember my first training camp when I wasn’t on the team.,” DeBrincat said. “He came back from the World Cup, and our first practice we’re in line together and he goes ‘Oh, you scored 50 in the OHL last year? That’s sick, congrats. I had 46 in the NHL.”

Appreciating History

That relationship has stood the test of time, even when the Blackhawks traded Kane in the 2022-23 season to the New York Rangers. It was part of why he was such a big advocate for bringing Kane to Detroit after his recovery from a hip surgery that has ended many a players’ career before. DeBrincat was a big part of why Kane came to play for the Red Wings.

“I think you can’t describe it really, I think the stuff he does on the ice is special and being part of it, it’s awesome,” DeBrincat said.

But it’s some of the things Kane brings to the team off the ice that Red Wings Coach Todd McLellan values the most.

“You don’t have to win or lose, you just have to walk into the lockerroom and he has an impact. His presence, his ability and want and desire to play hockey.” The Red Wings coach said.  “He has a never-ending interest in the game, and that is maybe the most important thing that rubs off on everybody,”  McLellan told reporters.

“Yeah, the working out, the training, the injury management the goals, the shot. All that type of stuff is important. But the never-ending interest in the game is contagious. It rubs off on other guys.”