Snapshots: Kane, Penguins Hall of Fame, New QMJHL Franchise

While Patrick Kane has accomplished nearly everything in his Hall of Fame career, one key achievement has eluded the American: Olympic gold. As the United States Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp started Tuesday, Kane, 36, made it clear that he wants more one shot at Olympic success, per NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika.

“The one thing that’s kind of missing is a gold in best-on-best, right?” Kane said. “It would be fun to have that opportunity.”

While Kane was named as a participant in the orientation camp, his spot on the Olympic roster is far from secure. However, coming off a 59-point season — which included 45 points over the final 43 games — Kane believes he still has the game to make the roster based on his current performance, not his past success.

With three Stanley Cups, a Hart Memorial Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and over 1,200 career points, Kane has built one of the greatest careers by any American player. But the long-time Blackhawk and current Red Wing feels he still has what it takes to get Team USA over the hump.

“Yeah, that’s all it is, is gold, and trying to get over the hump of Canada,” Kane said. “They’ve won the last two Olympics in best-on-best and the last two World Cups in best-on-best. Yeah, that’s what it’s all about, to win the gold.”

Elsewhere in the hockey world:

• After a 12-year hiatus, the Pittsburgh Penguins are reintroducing their Team Hall of Fame, announcing 10 new inductees. The list includes six former players and four former coaches or executives. Players Tom Barrasso, Ron Francis, Jaromir Jagr, Chris Kunitz, Larry Murphy, and Kevin Stevens, along with Scotty Bowman, Eddie Johnston, Jim Rutherford, and Ray Shero, were selected, per a team release. The release stated that the 10 honorees will be inducted over the course of the next three seasons. While the specifics of who will be inducted first have not yet been announced, the team is planning a ceremony for the first home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 25, per Triblive’s Seth Rorabaugh. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas personally called nine of the 10 inductees to inform them of the honor. In the case of Shero, who sadly passed away in April, Dubas called his sons, Rorabaugh adds.
• The residents of Lewiston, Maine may have a familiar activity to enjoy, as NHL.com’s Mark Divver reported today that the city could be in line for a new QMJHL franchise. As Divver notes, Lewiston previously had a QMJHL franchise from 2003 to 2010. At that time, the team played out of the famous Colisee, which had a capacity of 4,000. The Colisee is most known for hosting the iconic 1965 fight between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston.