On Thursday evening, Detroit Red Wings’ forward Patrick Kane scored twice in the Red Wings’ 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. The second goal had significance, as it was his 500th goal of his career.

Sportsnet Stats

@SNstats

·Follow

Patrick Kane 50th player in NHL history to score 500 goals, and the 7th to do so vs. the Canucks #LGRW

Watch on X

2:31 AM · Jan 9, 2026

1.0K

Read 15 replies

Kane became the 50th player to reach the mark, joining John Tavares as the two players to achieve the feat in 2025-26. Moreover, Kane became just the fifth player to score his 500th goal into an empty net, joining Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, and Keith Tkachuk to achieve the feat.

The Buffalo, New York native was drafted first overall in the 2007 draft. He immediately made the National Hockey League, scoring 21 goals and 72 points in his rookie campaign to win the Calder Trophy.

Kane reached the 30-goal milestone for the first time in 2009-10, reaching 88 points, the same number on his back. He added 10 goals and 28 points in 22 playoff games, including scoring the overtime winner to clinch the Chicago Blackhawks’ first Stanley Cup since 1960-61.

That kick-started a dynasty for the Original Six team, as they won the Cup in 2013 and 2015, with Kane picking up the Conn Smythe trophy in 2013. In 2015-16, Kane scored 46 goals and 106 points, reaching the triple-digit point mark for the first time and setting a career-high in goals. In 2018-19, he surpassed his career-high point total, scoring 44 goals and 110 points in 81 games.

The 2022-23 season saw Kane join a new organization for the first time in his career, as the rebuilding Blackhawks sent him to the New York Rangers, another Original Six team. They lost in seven games to the New Jersey Devils.

Kane also has the distinction of being one of the only athletes to return to a high-level after receiving hip resurfacing surgery. In late November 2023, Kane joined the Red Wings, and scored 20 goals and 47 points in his first season with the team. In 2024-25, Kane scored 21 goals and 59 points in 72 games, as the Wings nearly made the playoffs in both seasons.

Through 30 games this season, Kane has eight goals and 26 points, as the Red Wings sit second in the Atlantic Division.

Connor Bedard returned after missing 12 games

Speaking of the Blackhawks, their most recent first overall has returned. Connor Bedard dressed for the first time in 12 games, as the Blackhawks fell 5-1 to the Washington Capitals on Friday.

Touted as the next generational player, Bedard had great but not terrific seasons over his first two years. In 2023-24, the right-shot centre scored 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games. He followed that up with 23 goals and 67 points in 82 games in 2024-25.

Finally, the 20-year-old has broken out, as he has 19 goals and 44 points in 32 games this season. Before his shoulder injury, Bedard was third in league scoring, just behind Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid, while also being tied with Macklin Celebrini.

Entering Saturday’s games, the Blackhawks sit four points out of a playoff spot, as they have an 18-19-7 record and 43 points.

Hurricanes open to trading Jesperi Kotkaniemi

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the contending Carolina Hurricanes are listening to offers on Finnish forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

Drafted third overall by the Montréal Canadiens in 2018, Kotkaniemi scored 11 goals and 34 points in his rookie campaign. He followed that up with six goals and eight points in 36 games during the 2019-20 season, scoring four goals in 10 playoff games. In the Finnish forward’s final season as a Hab, he scored five goals and 20 points in 56 games, with five goals and eight points in 19 playoff games as the Canadiens made a surprise trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Entering that off-season as a restricted free agent, the Hurricanes offered him a one-year deal worth a little over $6.1 million, which the Canadiens declined to match. Kotkaniemi had a solid first season as a Hurricane, scoring a career-high 12 goals and 29 points in 66 games, with two assists in 14 playoff games. That off-season, the Hurricanes gave him an eight-year deal worth $4.82 million annually.

In 2022-23, he scored a career-high 18 goals and 43 points in 83 games, followed by three goals and seven points in 15 playoff games. Kotkaniemi scored 12 goals in back-to-back seasons, with 27 points in 2023-24 and 33 points in 2024-25. However, Kotkaniemi has struggled in 2025-26, scoring just two goals and six points in 25 games.

We’ll see if anything comes of this.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.