Almost sixteen years ago, a young superstar named Patrick Kane made his Olympic debut for the United States. A few months later, he would win his first of three Stanley Cups. Over the next decade and more, Kane would establish himself as one of the best American-born skaters in hockey history. But at age 36, and nearing the end of his career, the Rochester, N.Y. native still has one more item on his bucket list: winning Olympic Gold.
The quest to do so fell just short in 2010, when the Americans settled for silver after a thrilling but heartbreaking loss to Canada in Vancouver. Four years later – with Kane still dawning red, white, and blue – Team U.S.A. failed to medal in Sochi. Then came the drought of twelve years without best-on-best NHL players representing hockey in the Olympics.
In that time, Kane began struggling with injuries, especially in the post-pandemic years. He left the Chicago Blackhawks, tried chasing another Cup with the New York Rangers, and has since settled in with the Detroit Red Wings. His status as a top scorer in the league waned however, and even among the 2026 Olympic hopefuls, Kane is seemingly in the shadows of younger wingers like Tage Thompson and Brady Tkachuk.
Brady’s elder brother Matthew Tkachuk is rehabbing from surgery on his torn adductor muscle, but is expected to join the team come February. If something changes on that front, it could open the door for Kane to get a roster spot. Kane will have his work cut out for him to make this start-studded roster, but the possible absence of Matthew Tkachuk could leave a gaping hole meant for someone with multiple Stanley Cups.
While Patrick Kane could fit that bill, he will have to stay healthy himself and perform well in the first few months of the season. His teammate Dylan Larkin is a near lock to make the roster, so that could bode well for Kane if chemistry becomes a factor. There’s still a lot of hockey to be played before face-off in Milano-Cortina, but Patrick Kane’s clock is ticking.