| Pat Verbeek |
| Patrick Verbeek Center-Right Wing Right-Handed Shot Height: 5' 9", Weight: 190 pounds Born: 5.24.64 Sarnia, Ontario |
| How he arrived: Via Entry Draft How he left: Traded to the Hartford Whalers for Sylvain Turgeon, 6.17.89 |
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| Regular Season Statistics with the Franchise Stats in bold signifies team leader. |
Verbeek developed a hard work ethic from growing up and working on a farm, and on a team full of young, hard working
players, he became a favorite.
He also may have been small in stature with a lot of speed, but he was one player that you just didn't screw around with. That's
why he got so many penalty minutes. (It later earned him the nickname "The Little Ball of Hate." I get a kick out of that.) It's also
just evidence that he played big.
He nearly lost his left thumb in an accident on his farm during the 1985 off season. It was indeed sliced off, but would be saved
after his father investigated the equipment to find it and a 6-hour surgery. The accident nearly ended his career, but the surgery
saved it. Reading about this story makes me wonder if he was the Devils' Masterton nominee for '86.
He would come back better than ever after PT. In time, he would end up setting the team record for goals in a season with 46,
and power play goals with 17. (Both records later broken, of course.)
So why would he be traded for, of all people, Sylvain Turgeon? That's regarded by Rich Chere as the worst trade in team
history. Turgeon lasted only one year in Jersey, while Verbeek became an All-Star and captain of the Whalers.
Beeker also played a couple seasons with the Rangers, a couple with the Red Wings, and 2 stints with the Stars. He would
score 500 goals in his career in the end, getting #500 while with the Wings.
And speaking of the Wings, he had worked with them as one of their pro scouts since 2006. When Steve Yzerman joined the
Tampa Bay Lightning as their GM in 2010, Verbeek followed him to become his Assistant and Director of Pro Scouting.
players, he became a favorite.
He also may have been small in stature with a lot of speed, but he was one player that you just didn't screw around with. That's
why he got so many penalty minutes. (It later earned him the nickname "The Little Ball of Hate." I get a kick out of that.) It's also
just evidence that he played big.
He nearly lost his left thumb in an accident on his farm during the 1985 off season. It was indeed sliced off, but would be saved
after his father investigated the equipment to find it and a 6-hour surgery. The accident nearly ended his career, but the surgery
saved it. Reading about this story makes me wonder if he was the Devils' Masterton nominee for '86.
He would come back better than ever after PT. In time, he would end up setting the team record for goals in a season with 46,
and power play goals with 17. (Both records later broken, of course.)
So why would he be traded for, of all people, Sylvain Turgeon? That's regarded by Rich Chere as the worst trade in team
history. Turgeon lasted only one year in Jersey, while Verbeek became an All-Star and captain of the Whalers.
Beeker also played a couple seasons with the Rangers, a couple with the Red Wings, and 2 stints with the Stars. He would
score 500 goals in his career in the end, getting #500 while with the Wings.
And speaking of the Wings, he had worked with them as one of their pro scouts since 2006. When Steve Yzerman joined the
Tampa Bay Lightning as their GM in 2010, Verbeek followed him to become his Assistant and Director of Pro Scouting.
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| Entry Draft: 1982 Third Round Pick (43rd overall) by the New Jersey Devils |
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| Playoff Statistics with the Franchise |
