TORONTO — Pat Verbeek is in charge of a team ahead of schedule.

The Anaheim Ducks were supposed to continue a slow and steady rebuild this season toward an eventual playoff return further down the road. The club's general manager has instead watched his young group, led by a veteran bench boss back from the NHL wilderness, get shot out of a cannon.

"They're working hard, they're competing," Verbeek said this week at the league's annual November meeting of GMs in Toronto. "The goal going into the season was to play fast, and I think we're starting to get to that level of playing fast."

Tied for second in the overall standings with a surprising 11-4-1 record, Anaheim saw an impressive seven-game winning streak snapped Tuesday in a 4-1 road loss to the league-leading Colorado Avalanche.

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