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".
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
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
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]
