Anaheim Ducks name Pat Verbeek general manager
The Anaheim Ducks have named Pat Verbeek the seventh general manager in franchise history.
Verbeek, 57, played over 20 years in the NHL and has held multiple roles in front offices since. Retiring in 2002, Verbeek was out of pro hockey for four years before joining the Detroit Red Wings in 2006 as a pro scout, a role he held for four years.
In 2010, he joined the front office of the Tampa Bay Lightning as a director of professional scouting. It was the same year Steve Yzerman joined the Lightning as a vice-president of hockey operations. The pair worked in tandem helping turn the Lightning into one of the top franchises in the league.
After holding roles that included director of player personnel and assistant general manager, Verbeek re-joined the Detroit Red Wings alongside Yzerman in 2019.
Verbeek has been held in wide regard in NHL circles and it was only a matter of time before he got a chance to take on manning a franchise himself.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be named General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks. My family and I are looking forward to becoming part of the Orange County community,” said Pat Verbeek in a statement. “I’d like to express my gratitude to Henry and Susan, and the search committee for a first-class experience during this process and belief in my vision. The Ducks are a championship organization with world-class facilities, and I look forward to working with our entire staff to build on the foundation in place to construct a championship team our fans will be proud of on and off the ice.”
Verbeek will have a tall task ahead of him. First and foremost, he has difficult decisions to make with pending Rickard Rakell, Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.