The Anaheim Ducks have signed general manager Pat Verbeek to a multi-year contract extension as they continue their quest for their first Stanley Cup playoff appearance in eight years, the team announced Friday.

Verbeek has run the Ducks since February 2022, three months after longtime GM Bob Murray resigned following an investigation into his professional conduct.

After their 6-1 win Thursday over the San Jose Sharks, the Ducks sit in third place in the Pacific Division. They have 89 points, tied with the Vegas Golden Knights, but Vegas holds the tiebreaker. Both clubs are one point behind the first-place Edmonton Oilers. All have three games remaining and are trying to hold off the fourth-place Los Angeles Kings, who have 85 points.

“Pat has done exactly as we hoped, having turned the Ducks into what we believe are perennial contenders for the next decade,” Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli said in a team-released statement. “We are beyond excited to see the team continue developing into what is already an exciting, winning team ready to take the next step.”

Anaheim can clinch a spot in the postseason as early as Saturday if San Jose loses to the Vancouver Canucks in any fashion, the Winnipeg Jets lose to the Philadelphia Flyers in regulation, and the Nashville Predators lose to the Minnesota Wild in regulation. The Ducks’ next game is Sunday against the Canucks.

The Ducks have not made the playoffs since 2018, when they were swept in four games by the Sharks. That marked the beginning of a downturn for the franchise after five consecutive division titles and advancing to the Western Conference final in 2015 and 2017.

Upon taking over, Verbeek ushered in a major rebuild and traded away core players Hampus Lindholm, Rickard Rakell and Josh Manson, all three of whom were set to become unrestricted free agents.

The Ducks finished below .500 for seven consecutive seasons, bottoming out in 2022-23 with the worst record in the NHL.

That franchise-worst stretch allowed the Ducks to accumulate multiple high draft picks and form the team’s new core. Under the Murray regime, they selected center Mason McTavish with the No. 3 pick. Verbeek retained assistant GM Martin Madden as the club’s draft chief, and Anaheim took defenseman Pavel Mintyukov with the No. 10 pick in 2022.

In consecutive drafts, the Ducks took Leo Carlsson with the No. 2 pick — behind Connor Bedard — and Beckett Sennecke at No. 3, behind Macklin Celebrini and Artyom Levshunov. Carlsson, a 21-year-old No. 1 center, has career-bests of 28 goals and 65 points in his third season. Sennecke, 20, is one of the NHL’s top rookies, with 23 goals and 60 points.

What may be Verbeek’s best move was a trade for Cutter Gauthier, who did not want to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers after they drafted him at No. 5 in 2022. Gauthier, 22, has emerged this season with a team-high 38 goals to go with 27 assists.

To support his maturing youngsters, Verbeek surrounded them with veterans who have playoff experience and have won Stanley Cup championships. Initially, he signed Ryan Strome — who was traded to Calgary last month — and Frank Vatrano during his first dip into free agency. Alex Killorn was brought in after winning two championships with Tampa Bay, and Radko Gudas was named captain. Mikael Granlund was a free-agent signing last summer.

Verbeek also shaped the team through other trades. He acquired Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider in separate deals with the New York Rangers and got key penalty-killer and depth center Ryan Poehling in a package from the Flyers for Trevor Zegras. At this year’s deadline, Verbeek stunned the league with his acquisition of longtime Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson, who had his first career hat trick on Thursday.

The Ducks also announced on Friday that assistant general manager Mike Stapleton now holds the titles of senior vice president and associate general manager.

“Maintaining stability within our hockey operations department for the years to come will be important for the development of our team,” team president Aaron Teats said in the team statement. “Our hockey staff has worked tirelessly to build a talented group our community can be proud of.”