Detroit Red Wings: Pat Verbeek headed to Ducks to take over GM role

The Detroit Red Wings are building something special here in Hockeytown, but one of the top-level executives seems to like what is going on in Southern California more. Red Wings Assistant General Manager Pat Verbeek has landed the Anaheim Ducks General Manager position.

Detroit Red Wings General Manager (GM) Steve Yzerman has assembled a great staff, including Verbeek. He has been with the Red Wings since 2019, when Yzerman came aboard and returned “home” to the organization.

Since then, Verbeek has operated as one of Yzerman’s right-hand men and been a reliable guy Yzerman can go to. He earned a promotion when Ryan Martin departed the organization to take a position with the New York Rangers.

This allowed Verbeek to get a bigger role in the future of this team by running things with the Grand Rapids Griffins. While this also included contract management for some of the filler-AHL guys, Verbeek had a better opportunity to oversee this part of the organization.

However, it seems like Verbeek was able to get himself another upgrade, this time departing the Red Wings. After Verbeek had become one of Yzerman’s buddies, especially after three years on the ice together in Detroit, it appears that he will be looking to fill that role within the organization.

Pat Verbeek is leaving Detroit Red Wings for General Manager position.

It’s easy to see why the Anaheim Ducks are an attractive team. Not only does Verbeek get a promotion and a chance to test the waters as a General Manager (GM) of an organization, but they have some young players who are really helping them perform well.

They are currently third in the Pacific Division with a 23-16-9 record that ties the second-place Los Angeles Kings and is just two points back of the first-place Vegas Golden Knights, who are at the top of the pack. They’re young and building a competitive bunch over there too.

The Detroit Red Wings own Lucas Raymond is currently competing with Trevor Zegras in the race for the Calder Trophy; sadly, it seems like Zegras might just edge him out. With a plethora of young players in Anaheim like Zegras and Drysdale, who are former top-tier picks, it has allowed them to expedite their rebuild.

Things are moving in the right direction for the Ducks, and unfortunately for the Red Wings, they are losing an Assistant GM in the crossfire as the Ducks keep pushing along. The hope should be that the Red Wings do not miss a beat and can replace the position from within or bring in some help to keep Yzerman focused on the rebuild.

It’s fantastic for Verbeek, and it should be fun to see what he can do with that Ducks team over on the west coast, but here in Hockeytown, fans are starting to remember what that Red Wings competitiveness is all about.