Patrick Kane’s injury means NHL scoring title will elude US hands once again

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) has been celebrating scoring a lot of goals this season, so much so he had a chance at the NHL scoring title until his injury. Nam Y Huh / AP Photo

One of these years, an American might win an NHL scoring title.

Just not this year.

When Chicago Blackhawks right-wing Patrick Kane broke his clavicle last month and kissed the regular season goodbye, he was tied for the league scoring lead.

So long, Art Ross Trophy.

If once it seemed a bit odd that franchises located in Florida, North Carolina and California could win the NHL championship, those days are over.

So over it seems as if every human being in Southern California has laid his grubby paws on the Stanley Cup, thanks to multiple public showings by the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks in recent years.

Now it is Canada that cannot win the thing back – a 22-year drought.

But there is one hurdle Americans have not cleared, yet.

Kane, 26, the pride of Buffalo, New York, was five points shy of the Ross Trophy in the labour dispute-shortened season two years ago, finishing in fifth place.

The dazzlingly talented No 88 seemed to have his best shot this year.

As Chicago teammate Kris Versteeg put it: “If I was going to sell a ticket to someone who’s never watched a game, to watch one player, it would be Patrick Kane – you can be awed.”

American Kevin Stevens once finished second in the Ross race, eight points back in 1991/92.

But no one ever quite believed he would beat out his Pittsburgh Penguins teammate, a guy named Mario Lemieux.

Surely, an American will do this some day.

Americans are invading the NHL like locusts.

Ten years ago the league was 15 per cent American.

Today, it is 24 per cent.

Maybe it is fate, waiting its moment – an American wins the Ross, a Canadian team recaptures the Cup, all in the same year.

Maybe that is too crazy.

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