Has Steve Yzerman made his first hire as Lightning general manager?

Posted Jun 4, 2010 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Jun 4, 2010 at 10:22 PM

Steve Yzerman appears to have made his first hire as general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

According to a report out of Detroit on mlive.com, Yzerman has brought pro scout Pat Verbeek over from the Red Wings. Verbeek has spent the past four years as a scout with Detroit after retiring as a player in 2002.

The Lightning did not respond to a request seeking comment on the report late Friday.

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. Tampa Bay is scheduled to hold a meeting with the team’s pro scouts next week in Tampa to get ready for the start of free agency on July 1, with Yzerman expected to be in town by Monday.

Yzerman also appears close to bringing on board Red Wings director of hockey administration Ryan Martin as his new assistant general manager, but mlive.com said a hire has not been made as of yet despite discussions between the two sides. Martin has reportedly not been taken part in Detroit’s administrative meetings this week after Tampa Bay received permission from the Red Wings to speak to Martin.