The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). As of October 16, 2023, the manager of the Anaheim Ducks is Pat Verbeek.
Ice hockey is one of the major professional sports leagues in North America, along with baseball, basketball and football. As a franchise in the NHL, the Anaheim Ducks are required to have a manager (also known as a general manager or GM) who oversees hockey operations for the team.
The GM is responsible for building a competitive roster by acquiring players through trades, free agency and the annual NHL Draft. They negotiate player contracts, manage the team’s salary cap and make coaching staff decisions. The GM also develops the team’s prospects and draft strategy in conjunction with scouts and other front office staff.
The role of Ducks GM is currently held by Pat Verbeek, who was hired in 2022. He took over the position from Bob Murray, who had been the GM since 2008 and was the longest tenured GM in Ducks history. Under Murray’s management, the Ducks won five division titles and a Stanley Cup championship in 2007.
History of Anaheim Ducks General Managers
The Anaheim Ducks first entered the NHL as an expansion franchise in 1993. Originally called the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the team was named after the 1992 Disney movie The Mighty Ducks.
Here is a brief history of the general managers in franchise history:
- Jack Ferreira – 1993 to 1998 – The first GM in team history. He made the expansion draft selections and oversaw early player personnel moves.
- Pierre Gauthier – 1998 to 2002 – Made trades to acquire Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya, building a strong offensive team.
- Bryan Murray – 2002 to 2004 – Stepped down as coach to focus on GM duties and led the Ducks to the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals.
- Al Coates – 2004 to 2005 – His tenure was brief before stepping down during the 2004-05 NHL lockout.
- Brian Burke – 2005 to 2008 – Guided the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup title in 2007 with key acquisitions like Chris Pronger.
- Bob Murray – 2008 to 2021 – The long-time GM who provided stability but ultimately stepped down amid conduct concerns.
- Pat Verbeek – 2022 to present – Former NHL player hired to take over GM role and usher in new era for Anaheim.
Now that Pat Verbeek has assumed the general manager position, he will aim to build a successful Ducks team for the future. His approach may differ from previous GMs as he puts his own stamp on the franchise.
Biography of Pat Verbeek
Let’s take a closer look at the life and hockey career of current Ducks GM Pat Verbeek:
- Full Name: Patrick Verbeek
- Born: May 24, 1964 in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada (age 59)
- Position: Right Wing
- NHL Playing Career: 1982 to 2002
- Played for New Jersey Devils (1982-1989), Hartford Whalers (1989–1995), New York Rangers (1995–1996), Dallas Stars (1996–2002)
- 1,424 career games played – 522 goals, 541 assists, 1,063 points
- Two-time NHL All-Star
- Management Career:
- 2002 to 2019 – Various scouting roles with Red Wings
- 2019 to 2022 – Assistant GM of Red Wings
- February 3, 2022 – Named GM of Anaheim Ducks
As a gritty right winger, Verbeek earned the nickname “Little Ball of Hate” during his playing days for his aggressive, physical style on the ice. He tallied over 500 goals and 1,000 points during his 20-year NHL career.
After retiring as a player, Verbeek moved into management with the Detroit Red Wings. He gained experience as a pro scout, director of player personnel and eventually assistant general manager. This prepared him for a lead GM role.
On February 3, 2022, the Ducks announced Verbeek as their new general manager after firing Bob Murray. Anaheim’s ownership was seeking a fresh start with an experienced hockey mind like Verbeek at the helm. He signed a three-year contract to steer the Ducks into a new era.
Pat Verbeek’s Managerial Approach
As a first-time NHL general manager, Pat Verbeek will aim to rebuild the Ducks into a Stanley Cup contender once again. Here are some of the keys to his managerial approach:
- Player Development – Verbeek has cited boosting player development as crucial. Expect drafting, prospects and minor league system to be priorities.
- Smart Salary Cap Management – Keeping the team’s salary cap flexible long-term will enable making big moves when needed.
- Combining Youth and Veterans – Balancing young upstarts with veteran leadership will create a well-rounded roster.
- Aggressive Deal-Making – He was known for bold moves with the Red Wings. Could shake up roster with key trades.
- Modern Statistical Analysis – Will utilize analytics, data and technology to evaluate players and inform decisions.
Verbeek will inherit a Ducks team that has missed the playoffs four straight seasons since going to the Western Conference Finals in 2017. With a mix of aging stars like Ryan Getzlaf and young talent like Trevor Zegras, he has plenty of options for constructing the team’s future lineup.
Many industry insiders have praised the Verbeek hire, citing his experience, intelligence and relationship-building skills. He now has the opportunity to create a Ducks roster that reflects his hockey philosophy and vision.
Summary of Pat Verbeek’s Career
Here is a table summarizing Pat Verbeek’s career as both a player and executive within the NHL:
Role | Team | Years | Key Highlights |
---|---|---|---|
Player | New Jersey, Hartford, NY Rangers, Dallas | 1982 – 2002 | – 1,424 games played – 522 goals, 1,063 points – Two-time NHL All-Star |
Pro Scout | Detroit Red Wings | 2002 – 2006 | – Scouted NHL talent – Identified player targets |
Director of Pro Scouting | Detroit Red Wings | 2006 – 2019 | – Oversaw pro scouts – Coordinated scouting efforts |
Assistant General Manager | Detroit Red Wings | 2019 – 2022 | – Aided GM Steve Yzerman – Involved in roster decisions |
General Manager | Anaheim Ducks | 2022 – Present | – Hired Feb 3, 2022 – Signed 3-year contract |
This long resume includes over 20 years in NHL management roles with the highly respected Detroit Red Wings organization. Verbeek has worked his way up the ranks and provided stability in Detroit. Now he brings that experience plus strong player evaluation skills to the Ducks as he takes over GM duties.
Current Roster Outlook for the Anaheim Ducks
As Pat Verbeek assesses the Ducks’ roster for the 2022-23 season, here is a look at some of the key personnel decisions he faces:
Forwards
- Find scoring depth beyond Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras
- Manage veteran Ryan Getzlaf’s declining production
- Develop young forwards like Max Comtois and Mason McTavish
- Improve power play efficiency – ranked 30th in NHL last season
Defense
- Lean on Cam Fowler’s experience
- Seek stability after trading away Hampus Lindholm
- Get more offense from young blueliners Jamie Drysdale and Simon Benoit
- Tighten up penalty killing unit
Goaltending
- Split duties between John Gibson and Anthony Stolarz
- Manage $6.4 million cap hit from Gibson’s long-term deal
- Gibson’s stats declined last two seasons
- Injury history is a concern for both goalies
By developing young players and making a few shrewd moves, Verbeek could quickly shape the Ducks into a playoff contender. He has options with the salary cap flexibility and trade assets accumulated by past management.looks to make his mark starting in the 2022-23 season.
Trades and Signings as GM of the Ducks
Thus far in his tenure as Anaheim’s GM, Pat Verbeek has begun reshaping the franchise’s future through the following transactions:
Trades
- April 2022 – Traded defensemen Hampus Lindholm to Boston for a 2022 1st round pick, 2023 2nd round pick, 2024 2nd round pick and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen.
- July 2022 – Traded forward Nicolas Deslauriers to Minnesota for a 2023 3rd round pick.
- July 2022 – Traded defenseman Josh Mahura to Vancouver for defenseman Travis Dermott.
- September 2022 – Traded forward Adam Henrique to Montreal for forward Evgenii Dadonov.
These moves saw Verbeek acquire valuable draft picks and reshape the blue line. The Henrique for Dadonov swap freed up long-term cap space as well.
Free Agent Signings
- July 2022 – Signed forward Ryan Strome to a 5-year, $25 million contract.
- July 2022 – Signed defenseman John Klingberg to a 1-year, $7 million contract.
- August 2022 – Signed goaltender Anthony Stolarz to a 2-year, $3.6 million contract.
- September 2022 – Signed defenseman Nathan Beaulieu to a 1-year, $1 million contract.
Klingberg and Strome provide veteran scoring depth at valuable prices. Stolarz gives a proven backup goalie option behind Gibson. Verbeek has quickly augmented the roster via free agency.
Future Outlook
In his first year as GM of the Anaheim Ducks, Pat Verbeek will be focused on improving the NHL roster while also strengthening the franchise’s prospect pool and development system.
Here are some of the key things to watch for the Ducks’ future with Verbeek running hockey operations:
- Will likely continue trading veterans like Jakob Silfverberg and Adam Henrique for assets
- Needs to decide on a long-term extension for forward Troy Terry
- Multiple prospects pushing for NHL roster spots soon such as Mason McTavish, Olen Zellweger and Sasha Pastujov
- Strong prospect pool but lacks elite talent – key drafts ahead
- Plenty of cap space available in 2023-24 to make a big free agent splash if needed
- Goaltending future murky with John Gibson’s declining play and contract
The 2022-23 season will be crucial for evaluating the current roster core and which players fit into Verbeek’s vision for constructing a winner. His blend of patience and aggression will be tested early in his Ducks tenure.
Conclusion
The Anaheim Ducks have embarked on a new era following their disappointing streak of missing the playoffs four straight seasons. Long-time GM Bob Murray has been replaced by Pat Verbeek, who brings a wealth of management experience from his two decades with the Detroit Red Wings.
Verbeek’s early moves as Ducks GM have aimed to reshape the roster and amass valuable draft picks. Trading Lindholm and Henrique have freed up cap space while acquiring Klingberg, Strome and others have supplemented the existing core. Anaheim hopes Verbeek’s shrewd personnel decisions can get the franchise back into contention soon.
How Verbeek chooses to handle veterans like Getzlaf and Gibson alongside developing prospects like Zegras, McTavish and Drysdale will determine if the Ducks rise again in the Western Conference. There is optimism that his balanced approach of patience, scouting and opportunism can bring success. After years of organizational stability under Bob Murray’s management, the Ducks are eager to see what this new era will hold under GM Pat Verbeek’s guidance.