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Patrick Kane Sends Warning Message to Alex Ovechkin Amid Record Chase

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Treppedi | Last updated Mar 18, 2025 6:38 PM ET

Patrick Kane was selected first overall in the NHL draft three years after Alex Ovechkin.

Between the American and the Russian superstars, both veterans have won four combined Stanley Cups, four Hart Trophies, two Conn Smythes and two Calder Trophies—among other accolades.

The future Hall of Famers will lace up against one another on Tuesday when Kane's Detroit Red Wings face off against Ovechkin's Washington Capitals in the Capital. Except Kane and Ovechkin are both chasing something much different than one another.

The Red Wings trail the final wild-card position by two points with 15 games left. Ovechkin spearheads the Eastern Conference-leading Capitals with 96 points while he sits eight goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record.

"It's a great story, but, obviously, we're fighting for our lives, and we know he's a dangerous weapon for that team," Kane said to NHL.com. "So, we're trying not to give him any space whether it's 5-on-5 or the power play and limit his chances of shooting it at the net."

It's more than unlikely that Ovechkin will break it on Tuesday, but with 15 regular season games left and a playoff run on the horizon, No. 8 is on pace to eclipse 894 career goals this year.

"I think a lot of us probably thought that record would never be broken and here he is," Kane said on Tuesday. "Eventually, he's going to break it at some point in time. So, pretty cool to see the reaction it's getting, the excitement that's kind of building around the game and obviously their franchise. Their team's having a great year, but that's such a big story. It's been fun to follow, too.

"I think everyone that's playing the game is excited for him to get a chance to break that record and see that happen."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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