Patrick Kane from Red Wings indulged in fame in the Americans

Patrick Kane was in Cabo and enjoyed the sun, the sand and some time with his family. In a perfect world he would have been on the ice in Montreal. Kane laughed and said that he hurried to bring his four -year -old son to bed with the two -hour time difference, “then go to the television and see the 4 nations.”

“It’s sunny and I sit in my hotel room and watch hockey,” said Kane with a grin. “But it’s good. I think it was primarily for the game, the growth of the game, the attention it has received, and only for the kind of hockey, right? see and obviously see a big hockey, and obviously a huge hockey that looked at, and obviously a huge hockey that was a big hockey, and was obviously a huge hockey, and obviously one Huge hockey has done it, and obviously a big hockey that looked at, and obviously a huge hockey did, and obviously a big hockey did it, and obviously had a big hockey, a huge hockey that was open that was open , and obviously a big hockey that was a big hockey, and obviously has a big hockey, and obviously has a big hockey, and obviously a big hockey Has, and obviously a big hockey was a huge hockey? Game Thursday evening. “

As for this game last Saturday? The one in whom Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk and JT Miller dropped their gloves for the United States in the first nine seconds against Canada? The one in which Kanes team -mate Dylan Larkin scored the gambling goal for the Americans in the Bell Center, nothing less? Even Kane said he laughed at the fireworks after the puck drop.

“But of course Keith Tkachuk was a great player and had a great career. To educate two children who fight for the team three seconds after the game, it has to be an incredible feeling for him,” said Kane.

The last time the USA and Canada met in a best best tournament, Kane was on the ice at the 2016 World Cup for the Stars and Stripes. And the time before, at the Olympic Games in Sochi 2014. And the time before, as Sidney Crosby at the Olympic Games in Vancouver 2010, the hearts of the Americans broke with a golden gate in one of the biggest games in the history of the best rivalry of the hockey . When the United States and Canada come together for the title 4 nations in Boston on Thursday evening, Kane will be in the strange position of cheering from his couch.

“It’s hard,” he admitted. “You definitely want to be there and you have the feeling that you will miss a great hockey and a great opportunity. It is what it is. Personally start looking back, I mean we missed nine years . Right, the first four or five years were some of my best hockey that I had in my life.

“But it is what it is. I had my chances. I was there in 2010 and lost in the extension in the gold medal game. In 2014 we also had a really good team, we were right there and were allowed to play World Cup in 2016. Obviously If you want as many options as possible, but you see the kind of hockey, and the excitement that brings it seems to me the best way to expand the game.

After the 2016 World Cup, in which the USA with a 0-3 record in the group game-the NHL only sent its players to another international tournament. The 4 nations were a smashed success, with TV reviews that correspond to the high level of game. The U.S. Canada classic was the most viewed final of the Nonstanley Cup final in six years, and the championship game could exceed. It will certainly be in Kane’s house.

“As much as you are a player and you like to play the game, I’m still a fan of the game,” he said. “I will definitely be on my couch this evening and pay attention to it.”

Kane is one of the biggest American hockey players ever. He is show time. He will probably retire as the leading goal scorer from the USA from the USA, who is currently in third place in Mike Modano (1,374) and Brett Hull (1,391) with 1,315 points. But when the curtain begins to fall, his game is not quite as it used to be.

Kane was considered for the 4 nations of the United States – easily the most talented team that the country ever gathered – but slowly began in its 18th NHL season and was an understandable omission. Less than half of his goals and points this year are the same strength. NHL players will return to the Olympic Games in Italy next year. The team remains a goal for Kane.

“Of course of course,” he said. “That would be a great opportunity. I think the rest of this year or the beginning of next year and give yourself a chance.”

It will be a big task for Kane to crack the squad, even though he has returned with the red wings since Todd McLellan took over as head coach. He went into the 4 nation break with 17 points in his earlier 15 games, while the Wings had torn two seven games to get back into the playoff race. If Kane had played at this level when the United States announced their list in early December, he might take advantage of Thursday evening.

Nevertheless, the games were too invigorating, and the Americans played too well than that Kane felt something different from proud – and certainly, maybe a little competitive envy. He wrote Larkin an SMS after his game winner last Saturday and could not celebrate the captain of the Red Wings quickly enough when he was asked about him on Tuesday. Larkin rises in the spotlight at a lengthy moment after it has been excluded from the NHL playoffs in the past eight years.

“So happy for him,” said Kane. “It seemed as if he had started in the line -up and didn’t play so much in the first game (against Finland), and then you know when he gets the chance, he will play well and do everything with his possibilities. I thought he thought he was The (Canada) game played great … and to see him on the two-to-one game, the excitement and how big the goal was to see. “

For Kane it is also: “The talent level from the USA was incredible, the boys are getting better and better.”

Like Larkin, Kane is a product of the US national team development program in nearby Plymouth. The 4 -nations list of Americans comprises 15 such alumni, including Captain Auston Matthews and alternative captains Matthew Tkachuk and Charlie McAvoy. Every year a new wave of talents in Plymouth and buries into the NHL, and “some of these players who appear these days are immediately impact player,” said Kane or some of the best players in the league. “

“We didn’t really have it five or 10 years ago. We had some good players in 2010, ’14, ’16, but I think the depth is simply deeper than ever before and the skills and the ability to To be able to play levels, “said Kane. “It is fun to see where the American game went, and obviously the Canadians will always be there.” I will always be there.

“But it’s fun to see the American side – I don’t want to say that you reach your level because it is a long way – but definitely be competitive with you.”

For Kane, big games remain on the horizon this season. The Red Wings will return to the campaign on Saturday, take the second Wild Card position in the east and claim their first playoff place in mind for nine years. Kane longs for a playoff game, the nervous energy in the changing room, “the intensity, the atmosphere of the crowd”, the euphoria of a victory with the season on the line.

“The rest of the year here we have something to shoot,” he said. “They shoot for the playoffs to have this kind of feelings and play in these big games.”

The three -time cup winner still has a few thrills to hunt in red, white and maybe blue.