Report: Red Wings Assistant GM Verbeek To Be Next GM Of Ducks

Published reports are saying that Detroit Red Wings assistant GM Pat Verbeek will be named the next GM of the Anaheim Ducks. TSN NHL insider Pierre LeBrun as much confirmed the hire in a social media post on Wednesday evening.

“All signs point to Pat Verbeek being named the next GM of the Anaheim Ducks, sources say,” LeBrun tweeted. “Announcement possibly as early as Thursday.”

All signs point to Pat Verbeek being named the next GM of the Anaheim Ducks, sources say. Announcement possibly as early as Thursday. The former NHLer has worked alongside Steve Yzerman in Tampa and Detroit. Seems primed and ready for this opportunity. @TSNHockey @TheAthletic

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 3, 2022

Verbeek was in the Little Caesars Arena suite with the rest of the Red Wings front office at Wednesday’s Detroit-Los Angeles Kings game.

Detroit Hockey Now reported earlier this week that Verbeek was a finalist for the job. An NHL executive confirmed that report and added that another finalist for the job was Ryan Martin. Verbeek took over as Detroit’s sole assistant GM last summer when Martin left the Red Wings to take a similar position with the New York Rangers. He had joined the club in the spring of 2019.

Among Verbeek’s duties is serving as GM of the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s top farm club. he took over that role when Martin departed. The Red Wings willbe requiring someone from within the organization stepping up to be filling that vital role when Vrebeek departs for the Ducks.

Murray Stepped Down As Ducks GM In November

The Ducks have been without a GM since Bob Murray tendered his resignation in November.

Verbeek, 57, joined the Red Wings as a scout in 2006. He followed Detroit GM Steve Yzerman to Tampa Bay when Yzerman took over as GM of the Lightning and worked his way up the front office ladder working for his former Red Wings teammate.

As a player, the 5-foot-9, 190-pound Verbeek was a unique combination of productivity and agitation, earning him the the nickname The Little Ball of Hate. In 21 NHL seasons, including two with the Red Wings from 1999-2001, Verbeek scored 522 goals and served 2,095 penalty minutes. Four times he topped the 40-goal plateau in a single season.

Verbeek won a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1998-99. He also earned a World Championship gold medal with Canada in 1994.