Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane eyeing NHL scoring title

Winning the Art Ross Trophy as the National Hockey League’s leading scorer is incredibly difficult. Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks has already done it once in his career and he is looking to do it again. He has his eyes on it as he is tied for second in the league with Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers. Patrick Kane has one more goal than Draisaitl so that is the tiebreaker but they have the same number of points at 34. They trail Connor McDavid of the Oilers who is in first with 40.

It is going to be really hard to catch McDavid as he has been the NHL’s best player pretty much since coming into the league. It will also be hard to keep up with Draisaitl because of the fact that he is one of the best scorers in the league and he plays significant power-play time with McDavid. There are also two Toronto Maple Leafs in Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews on his tail as well. Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets isn’t that far behind them.

If you take a deep dive, Kane is the only player in the top-six that doesn’t play for a Canadian team. That North Division is loaded with scoring and not so loaded with stellar defense. Every team scores a lot and it makes sense for them to have a lot of players in the scoring race. For Kane, however, he plays in the Central which is a much more sound defensive division which makes it that much more impressive.

It isn’t a sure thing that he catches McDavid or even keeps up with Draisaitl. The odds are against him as they are all young and in more prolific situations but if there was anyone to bet on to beat the odds, it is Kane. He does have Alex DeBrincat going well as he is tied for seventh in scoring. The fact that he is having a bounce-back year is really helping Kane out as well.

Kane’s 400th career goal came last week and it was an incredible milestone in the history of the franchise. Now, people are talking about Kane and where he ranks in terms of American hockey history, the history of the organization, and the history of Chicago sports. Another scoring title would certainly add even more to his already decorated career.

Kane was named as the NHL’s Second Star of the Week for last week and then that was followed by being named the Central Division’s Star of the Month yesterday. All of these things are significant for Kane as he tries to lead this team into the playoffs. If he succeeds, expect to see his name in the Hart Trophy race as well.