DETROIT — Long after the Red Wings had defeated Vancouver, 5-1, Thursday — and arguably more importantly for fans overjoyed that Patrick Kane had reached the 500-goal milestone — Little Caesars Arena still had a feeling of excitement.

Fans in the lower-level club by the locker were partying. There was a buzz in the arena level. It felt like a playoff victory. The simple glee of seeing Kane score two goals, get to 500 — and that last one the way it unfolded, jumping onto the ice after Vancouver had pulled its goalie, scoring into an empty net — made for a euphoric evening.

It was a night that Kane, teammates, coaches, everyone around the Wings won't soon forget.

"It's a special moment in history, so everyone in this room will remember being a part of that special moment," said linemate Alex DeBrincat, who starred with Kane in Chicago before both became Wings.

Kane spent considerable time in the locker room afterward with his 5-year-old son Patrick III, basking in the moment and accomplishment.

The roar of the Wings' crowd, the support and joy his teammates showed when they streamed onto the ice when Kane scored goal No. 500, it all touched Kane. As did a locker room speech afterward by captain Dylan Larkin that had Kane in awe.

"He's such a classy person, and kind of what he said had me feeling all the emotions," Kane said. "It's something I'll never forget."

Kane had an intricate hip resurfacing surgery June 1, 2023, a procedure that few hockey players have successfully returned from. Many teams shied away from signing Kane later that calendar year, but the Wings and general manager Steve Yzerman were optimistic.

The relationship has turned out to be beyond beneficial for both sides.

"This organization kind of taking a chance on me a few years ago and coming back from a surgery that not many guys have come back from, then just being around here and seeing the group kind of build itself up and get better and better, and in the position we're in as a team, makes it all much more special," Kane said.

Kane is the sixth player to reach the 500-goal milestone in a Wings jersey, joining Gordie Howe (March 14, 1962 at New York Rangers), Dino Ciccarelli (Jan. 8, 1994 at Los Angeles), Yzerman (Jan. 17, 1996 vs. Colorado), Pat Verbeek (March 22, 2000 vs. Calgary) and Brendan Shanahan (March 23, 2002 at Colorado).

Kane became the 50th NHL player to score 500 goals.

"Five hundred is kind of a number that's recognized with goal scoring, right?" Kane said. "So, to do it as a Red Wing and be the 50th person to do that in the NHL is pretty special."

It's been interesting to see how Kane, who was bitter rival of Wings fans when he was starring with the Blackhawks, has quickly become a fan favorite in three short seasons.

"His picture is going to go up somewhere in the rink and generations of Wings fans are going to come and say, 'I heard about that guy,' " said Red Wings coach Todd McLellan, of Kane's impact on another Original Six franchise. "They'll look the goal up on the computer or whatever we'll be using in the future, and they'll see it."

Kane wasn't sure how the relationship with Wings fans was going to go. But it's been better than he could have imagined.

"Incredible the way they've welcomed me," Kane said. "With open arms. It's something I'll never forget. You never know how it's going to be, coming from Chicago. A storied rivalry between the Red Wings and Blackhawks. But just the welcoming from the fans and organization and team, everyone within the organization, it's all been incredible."

DeBrincat was intense in his recruitment of Kane to the Wings in 2023. The Wings were an inexperienced team learning how to be consistent winners and needed a veteran with Kane's presence, pedigree and talent.

Kane was familiar with the Detroit area having played youth hockey here and was intrigued with the Wings' talent. He also relished the idea of playing with DeBrincat again.

DeBrincat was thrilled to have an opportunity to reunite with arguably one of the USA's best hockey players ever.

"You watch him growing up and he's an American icon, he's the best to ever do it," said DeBrincat, who recalled being drafted by Chicago and attending training camp when Kane was in his prime. "You just try to soak up as much as you can from those guys and there were a lot of guys on that team. Kaner was a guy I gravitated to and tried to learn from.

"I remember my first training camp, when I wasn't on the team yet, he came back from the World Cup and it was our first practice together. We're in a line together and he goes, 'You scored 50 goals in the OHL last year, that's sick, congratulations. I had 46 in the NHL.' He shoved it right in my face a little bit and that was awesome.

"It's crazy to the point we've come and he's still always jabbing me like that. It's a cool relationship."

What's next for Kane in terms of a milestone watch?

After the two goals Thursday, Kane needs only six points to pass Mike Modano to become the all-time leader for points among American-born players. Modano had 1,374 and Kane has 1,369.

McLellan, who has been around many Hall of Fame players in his coaching career, will watch Kane dutifully go about his business every day and likely pass that particular milestone also, as humbly as Kane has done all the previous ones.

"His passion for the game is evident every day he comes to the rink," McLellan said. "He's never down or whining. He just wants to play hockey. You see it in his practice habits. With so many games and miles and injuries and stuff like that, you sometimes want to cut him some slack but he doesn't cut himself any slack.

"He's an easy guy to coach. At that level of player, with that many years and type of resume, he could make it hard on people, whether it's linemates or coaches or organizations. None of that ever appears. His professionalism is through the roof."

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