Patrick Martin Verbeek (born May 24, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current general manager of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Verbeek played for five teams over a 20-year playing career, earning a Stanley Cup ring with the Dallas Stars in 1999. His nickname, the "Little Ball of Hate", was given to him in 1995 by Glenn Healy after fellow New York Rangers teammate Ray Ferraro was tagged as the "Big Ball of Hate".

Pat Verbeek
Verbeek in 2014
Born (1964-05-24) May 24, 1964 (age 60)
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for New Jersey Devils
Hartford Whalers
New York Rangers
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
National team  Canada
NHL draft 43rd overall, 1982
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 1982–2002
Medal record
Representing  Canada
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1994 Italy
Silver medal – second place 1989 Sweden
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 1996 Canada
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Soviet Union

He is one of a few NHL players to have scored 500 goals, but one of four of those who are eligible but not a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Playing career

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Verbeek grew up in Petrolia, Ontario playing minor hockey before suiting up for the OHA Petrolia Jets Jr.B. club in 1979-80 as a 15-year old.

Verbeek was selected 43rd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. He helped the Devils to their first playoff berth in the 1987–88 season, when he scored what was a club record 46 goals until it was broken in the 2005–06 season by Brian Gionta's 48 goals.

On May 15, 1985, one of Verbeek's thumbs was cut off by an auger in a farming accident. Thanks to his father and brother his thumb was saved, and after extensive rehabilitation, Verbeek returned to hockey.[1][2]

On April 18, 1988, Verbeek cut the leg of Washington Capitals defenseman Rod Langway with his skate.[3] The NHL ruled the incident accidental, but the episode added to the Patrick Division rivalry between Washington and New Jersey.

After the 1988–89 season, the Devils traded him to the Hartford Whalers. In his first season, he led the team in goal scoring and in his second he was named team MVP. In 1991, he made the All-Star team for the first time and in the following season, Verbeek was named the Whalers captain. After a short stint with the Rangers, he signed with the Dallas Stars as a free agent in 1996,[4] where he won his first Stanley Cup championship in 1999.

During the 1999–2000 season, he signed with the Detroit Red Wings. In Detroit, he passed the 1,000-point mark, scored his 500th goal, and moved into the top 25 in career goal scoring before returning to Dallas for his final NHL season in 2001–02.

Verbeek is the only NHL player to record 40+ goals and 200+ penalty minutes in the same season three times.

Post-playing career

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After retirement, he became a part-time color analyst for television broadcasts of Red Wings' road games. Verbeek is the only player in NHL history to total over 500 career goals and 2500 career penalty minutes. He left his position as a broadcaster in September 2006, to become a scout for the Red Wings. Verbeek was later recruited by former teammate, Steve Yzerman, to work as assistant general manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Pat Verbeek worked alongside Yzerman for the Lightning for years, until the pair eventually returned to Detroit. On May 6, 2019, Verbeek was named an assistant general manager for the Detroit Red Wings.[5]

Verbeek was named general manager of the Anaheim Ducks on February 3, 2022.[6]

Personal

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Verbeek and his wife Dianne have five children. One son, Kyle, and four daughters: Stephanie, Kendall, Haley, & Georgeanne. The family resided in Birmingham, Michigan during his tenure with the Red Wings, before relocating to Newport Beach, California. Patrick Kane lived with Verbeek and his family in 2003, after relocating to Detroit, Michigan to play for the Honeybaked 16U AAA hockey club. Kane credited Verbeek as a mentor and even emulated his playing style.[7]

Awards

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Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1979–80 Petrolia Jets WOHL 41 17 24 41 85
1980–81 Petrolia Jets WOHL 42 44 44 88 155
1981–82 Sudbury Wolves OHL 66 37 51 88 180
1982–83 Sudbury Wolves OHL 61 40 67 107 184
1982–83 New Jersey Devils NHL 6 3 2 5 8
1983–84 New Jersey Devils NHL 79 20 27 47 158
1984–85 New Jersey Devils NHL 78 15 18 33 162
1985–86 New Jersey Devils NHL 76 25 27 53 79
1986–87 New Jersey Devils NHL 74 35 24 59 120
1987–88 New Jersey Devils NHL 73 46 31 77 227 20 4 8 12 51
1988–89 New Jersey Devils NHL 77 26 21 47 189
1989–90 Hartford Whalers NHL 80 44 45 89 228 7 2 2 4 26
1990–91 Hartford Whalers NHL 80 43 39 82 246 6 3 2 5 40
1991–92 Hartford Whalers NHL 76 22 35 57 243 7 0 2 2 12
1992–93 Hartford Whalers NHL 84 39 43 82 197
1993–94 Hartford Whalers NHL 84 37 38 75 177
1994–95 Hartford Whalers NHL 29 7 11 18 53
1994–95 New York Rangers NHL 19 10 5 15 18 10 4 6 10 20
1995–96 New York Rangers NHL 69 41 41 82 129 11 3 6 9 12
1996–97 Dallas Stars NHL 81 17 36 53 128 7 1 3 4 16
1997–98 Dallas Stars NHL 82 31 26 57 170 17 3 2 5 26
1998–99 Dallas Stars NHL 78 17 17 34 133 18 3 4 7 14
1999–2000 Detroit Red Wings NHL 68 22 26 48 95 9 1 1 2 2
2000–01 Detroit Red Wings NHL 67 15 15 30 73 5 2 0 2 6
2001–02 Dallas Stars NHL 64 7 13 20 72
NHL totals 1,424 522 540 1,062 2,905 117 26 36 62 225

International

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Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
1983 Canada WJC   7 2 2 4 6
1989 Canada WC   4 0 2 2 2
1994 Canada WC   8 1 1 2 4
1996 Canada WCH   1 0 0 0 0
Junior totals 7 2 2 4 6
Senior totals 13 1 3 4 6

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Verbeek Healing Well". The New York Times. June 14, 1985. Retrieved June 22, 2007.
  2. ^ "1982 NHL Entry Draft – Pat Verbeek". HockeyDraftCentral.com. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
  3. ^ "Langway Out Indefinitely". The New York Times. April 20, 1988.
  4. ^ "1982 NHL Entry Draft -- Pat Verbeek".
  5. ^ Kulfan, Ted (May 6, 2019). "Pat Verbeek reunites with Steve Yzerman, Red Wings with front-office position". The Detroit News. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  6. ^ Myers, Tracy (February 3, 2022). "Verbeek hired as Ducks general manager, was assistant with Red Wings". NHL.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  7. ^ Burns, Mark (2015). "A Few Minutes With Patrick Kane". USA Hockey Magazine. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
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Preceded by Hartford Whalers captain
199295
Succeeded by
Preceded by General manager of the Anaheim Ducks
2022–present
Incumbent