As the Tampa Bay Lightning's coaching search appears to be coming to a climax, new general manager Steve Yzerman has turned to his former team for his first official hire.
Tampa Bay announced today that Pat Verbeek was added to its pro scouting staff.
Verbeek, 46, spent the previous four seasons as a pro scout with the Red Wings, where Yzerman played his entire NHL career and spent the past four years as vice president.
In Detroit, Verbeek scouted at the AHL and NHL levels, providing key information to the coaching and management regarding potential trades and free agent acquisitions.
Verbeek was known as the "Little Ball of Hate'' during his playing days as he amassed 522 goals, 1,063 points and 2,905 penalty minutes in 1.424 games with five teams, including two seasons as a teammate of Yzerman in Detroit. He is the only player in NHL history to total more than 500 goals and 2,500 career penalty minutes.
A native of Sarnia, Ontario, Verbeek played for five different teams during a 20-year NHL career. He won the Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999.
The Lightning reportedly are set to hire Guy Boucher as their next head coach. Multiple reports said Boucher resigned from his position as coach with Hamilton of the AHL, the top affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning have not confirmed the reports.
Yzerman also was talking with Red Wings director of hockey administration Ryan Martin about being the Lightning's assistant general manager, according to published reports.
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