The Anaheim Ducks tabbed former NHLer Pat Verbeek as the team’s new general manager. He becomes the team’s sixth general manager and replaces Bob Murray in the role.
🚨 IT’S OFFICIAL: We have hired Pat Verbeek as our General Manager.
Verbeek is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion who has spent 35 years in the NHL, the last 16 as an executive.https://t.co/V6zWiJMuzQ
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) February 3, 2022
Pat Verbeek Named Ducks GM
Verbeek is an NHL lifer that’s been in the league for the last 35. He’s spent the last 16 years in the front office and was assistant general manager with the Detroit Red Wings. He served in the same role with the Tampa Bay Lightning previously and has been with Wings GM Steve Yzerman.
The player dubbed as “The Little Ball of Hate” won a Stanley Cup as a player in 1999 with the Dallas Stars. He also has a Cup as a professional scout with Detroit. Verbeek totaled 522 goals and 540 assists for 1,062 points in 1,424 career games. He played with the New Jersey Devils Hartford Whalers, New York Rangers, Stars and Red Wings in his 20-year NHL career.
The Sarnia, Ontario native has also represented his country of Canada on the international level. He’s got a gold and a silver at the IIHF World Championships and was on the silver medalists at the 1997 World Cup of Hockey. Verbeek has also picked up international medals as an executive for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and 2015 world champion Canada squad.
What it Means
Yzerman has put together Cup winners with Tampa Bay and seems to be on the right path with Detroit. Verbeek has a vast hockey knowledge and experience in the game. If he’s anything like his old boss, Verbeek will have the Ducks back to near the top of the Pacific Division soon.
Anaheim does have some good young players like exciting Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale and others. The Ducks also have a solid goalie in John Gibson that’s had some great seasons. There will be some moves to be made at the deadline and it will be a good starting point for the club.
