Patrick Kane set the Patrick Kane US-born assists record Thursday night, passing Hall of Famer Phil Housley for the most career assists by a U.S.-born player in NHL history. Kane picked up the milestone helper on a first-period power-play goal by Connor Bedard during the Chicago Blackhawks’ game against the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 16, 2026.
Kane did not stop there. He added a second assist on Artyom Levshunov’s overtime winner just 1 minute, 37 seconds into the extra period, lifting the Blackhawks to a 4-3 victory over the Jets, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The Main Development: Kane Passes Housley
Kane’s assist on Bedard’s power-play goal tied him with Housley atop the all-time list for American-born players. The second assist, on Levshunov’s game-winner, pushed Kane to 896 career assists and sole possession of the record in his 20th NHL season.
Housley, who spent parts of 21 seasons in the league and is enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, had held the mark before Kane’s breakout night against Winnipeg.
What It Means: A Family Connection To The Record
Kane described the personal tie to Housley that runs through his family. “My dad grew up watching (Phil Housley), and my dad wore No. 6 when he was younger. Housley wore No. 6 for the Sabres, so I’ve gotten to know him over the years through different USA stuff, always a guy I looked up to,” Kane said. “I guess you play long enough, you get the opportunities to achieve things like this, so it’s pretty special.”
Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill credited Kane’s broader influence on the sport in the United States. “I’m a huge Patrick Kane fan for what he’s done for the sport and the U.S. and how much it’s meant to so many Americans,” Blashill said.
Context: A Rare Link Between No. 1 Picks
Kane, 37, is in his 20th season with Chicago. His assist alongside Bedard also produced a historical footnote: the two became only the second pair of No. 1 overall picks drafted at least 15 years apart by the same franchise to combine for a goal and assist, according to the Tribune. The only other pairing was Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who did it eight times during the 2005-06 season.
Kane and Bedard, Chicago’s two most recent No. 1 overall selections, connected on the power play in the same game that delivered the assists record, tying together two generations of Blackhawks hockey in a single night.
What’s Next
The Blackhawks’ win over Winnipeg came on the heels of Bedard’s season debut against Pittsburgh earlier in the schedule. Chicago will look to build on the victory as it continues its 2026-27 campaign, with Kane now sitting alone as the career assists leader among U.S.-born players.
More NHL news from Total Apex Sports.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
