Pat Verbeek

Lore & Background

A dependable presence for over 1,400 games, Verbeek is the only player to have recorded three 40-goal seasons with over 200 penalty minutes each. He recorded thirteen 20-goal seasons in his career, which saw him become one of only three players with 500 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes. He won his first and only Stanley Cup as a player 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'. In 2000, he became the 28th player to score 500 career goals. He is one of four 500-goal players who are eligible but not a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

In Their Own Story

The Forum was packed on a cold Tuesday night in the early 80s, the kind of game where the Kings were trailing by two and the crowd was starting to murmur. The puck cycled to the point, and Verbeek, skating along the blue line with his stick low and his eyes up, saw something nobody else had. A quick deke, a pivot, and then a no-look pass threading the defence like a needle through silk. His winger buried it from the slot. The Forum erupted. Verbeek didn't celebrate—just skated back, stick dragging, already reading the next play. That quiet confidence, that sense that the next beautiful thing was already in his mind, was what made him legendary to the Kings faithful.

Reader's Guide

Verbeek grew up in Petrolia, Ontario to a family of farmers. He played minor hockey before suiting up for the OHA Petrolia Jets Jr.B. club in 1979–80. He was drafted by the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League in 1981. He logged 37 goals and 88 total points on his way to being awarded the Emms Family Award for his rookie play, the first player in franchise history to win the award. He was drafted 43rd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1982 NHL entry draft. He played his first NHL game on March 21, 1983. Over his career, he played for the Devils, Hartford Whalers, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, and Detroit Red Wings. After his playing career ended, he became a broadcaster for the Red Wings before becoming a scout for the team in 2006. He was hired by the Tampa Bay Lightning as director of professional scouting in 2010 and rose to assistant general manager in 2012; he was hired by the Red Wings to serve the same position in 2019. In 2022, he was hired as general manager of the Anaheim Ducks.

Did You Know?

• Verbeek is the only player to have recorded three 40-goal seasons with over 200 penalty minutes each.
• His nickname 'Little Ball of Hate' was given to him in 1995 by Glenn Healy.
• He won his only Stanley Cup as a player in 1999 with the Dallas Stars.
• In 2000, he became the 28th player to score 500 career goals.
• He is one of four 500-goal players who are eligible but not a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.