The Ducks hit a high note on the ice on Thursday and perhaps not coincidentally announced that they extended the contract of General Manager Pat Verbeek on Friday.
Verbeek, 61, signed a “multi-year” pact, per a team news release, which additionally revealed that Assistant GM Mike Stapleton, 59, was promoted to the titles of Senior Vice President and Associate GM.
In February of 2022, Verbeek took the helm from his predecessor Bob Murray, after a tenure with three Western Conference finals runs had dissolved into dysfunction. Verbeek, who had worked under former teammate Steve Yzerman in Tampa Bay and Detroit, took to the tough task of cutting up the remnants of a contender that had missed the postseason cut in three straight seasons.
What followed were four more non-playoff campaigns, but ones with a constructive direction. Yes, the Ducks sold off pieces, flipped rentals and skirted the salary cap floor at times, but those years also stockpiled picks, prospects and talent.
Verbeek’s first coaching hire was Greg Cronin in 2023, who established higher organizational standards and emphasized player development en route to a 21-point improvement from his first season to his second. Verbeek then fired Cronin, bringing in another former teammate, Joel Quenneville, who coached the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup titles.
Today, the Ducks’ total extrapolates to a 12-point jump and they are on the verge of clinching their first playoff berth since 2018.
The Ducks (42-32-5) are currently in third place in the Pacific Division, but just one point out of first place with three games left in the regular season. The Ducks could clinch a playoff spot this weekend.
“Pat has done exactly as we hoped, having turned the Ducks into what we believe are perennial contenders for the next decade,” Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli expressed in a statement. “We are beyond excited to see the team continue developing into what is already an exciting, winning team ready to take the next step.”
Verbeek invested premium draft capital in a pair of off-the-board selections, Leo Carlsson at No. 2 overall in 2023 and Beckett Sennecke as the third pick a year later, both of whom have paid dividends in short order and appear to be franchise cornerstones in the long run. He also finessed another piece of the Ducks’ nucleus in Cutter Gauthier after the left winger refused to sign his entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, who drafted him fifth overall in 2022.
Stapleton served seven seasons as a pro scout under Murray before ascending to the Director of Player Personnel and later Assistant GM under Verbeek. Like Verbeek, who captained the Hartford Whalers and won a Stanley Cup title with the Dallas Stars, Stapleton had a long career as a player. He played 14 seasons with seven different organizations as a journeyman center.
“Mike has been a valuable member of our staff both with his scouting expertise and staff management,” Verbeek said in a statement. “His character and experience as a player and hockey executive complement our organization perfectly.”
The Ducks will confront the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, which will be Fan Appreciation Night for their final home game of the regular season.