Take Islanders 21-year-old leading scorer Mathew Barzal for example, who conceded that Kane is among the group of players he emulates and is most eager to be around this weekend.
Barzal is just beginning his career in the League and has watched Kane produce a ridiculous 71-point campaign thus far at the age of 30.
"We played Chicago twice this year and those might have been my two best games of the year," said Barzal. "I think it has a lot to do with playing against a guy like that. He just always brings the best out of any player, I think. He's out there making plays every shift and you want to be like him too.
"I played against him the other night and he looks the best I've ever seen him. It's crazy how he does it every year."
When he hears tales of young All-Stars watching Patrick Kane highlights on the internet as kids in juniors, he embraces it.
"I think it's pretty cool, you know? I think it's pretty cool that they watched me when they were younger or I was one of the guys they looked up to or wanted to take some parts of my game to put into their game… When I hear that I don't think 'oh man, I'm so old' or whatever. I think it's just cool that these guys like me. That's what I think."
The admiration is a two-way street. As a student of the game, Kane is well aware of the youth that's rising through the ranks of the NHL. This All-Star weekend in San Jose is the perfect time to get to know more of the fresh faces.
"For me, it's even cool to meet the young guys too because they're a big part of our game," Kane said. "It's a young man's league and it's fun to talk to them about their seasons or their careers and different things like that."
With 29 goals and 42 assists in 50 games at the break, there are no signs of Showtime slowing down. It begs the question: Eight down, how many more to go?
"Pretty crazy we're at eight All-Star games here, but at the same time it's cool to see that number keep growing," Kane said. "I feel pretty good about myself and my game and where it's at. Hopefully, [I'll] keep growing the number."
