Verbeek joining Yzerman in Red Wings' front office

Steve Yzerman has his right-hand man.

Former Tampa Bay Lightning executive Pat Verbeek will join Yzerman in the Detroit Red Wings' front office as assistant general manager, the team announced Monday.

Verbeek will serve alongside fellow assistant GM Ryan Martin and focus on player personnel decisions. Martin will remain GM of the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.

Yzerman's relationship with Verbeek dates back to the 1999-2000 season when the latter joined the Red Wings as a free agent. The two started their respective front-office careers with Detroit in 2006. After Yzerman was named the GM of the Lightning in 2010, Verbeek traveled to Tampa Bay to become the director of pro scouting before eventually sliding into an assistant GM/director of player personnel role.

Verbeek, 54, tallied over 1,000 points during his 20-year playing career.

Lightning front-office executives Jamie Pushor, Stacy Roest, and Al Murray are staying in Tampa Bay after they were promoted to assistant GM positions, the team announced. Former Bolts forward Mathieu Darche has also joined the organization as director of hockey operations.

The Red Wings named Yzerman GM and vice president of hockey operations on April 19. He stepped down from his role with the Lightning prior to the 2018-19 campaign but stayed with the organization as a senior advisor for the duration of the season.

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