ANAHEIM — General manager Pat Verbeek reiterated his desire to re-sign Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm and several other potential unrestricted free agents before the NHL’s March 21 trade deadline, telling a group of season-ticket holders Saturday he would “do our best to get it done.”

But, as Verbeek said during previous interviews with the Southern California News Group and The Athletic, he would not hesitate to trade Lindholm, defenseman Josh Manson and/or right wing Rickard Rakell if he believed he couldn’t work out new contracts for them before the deadline.

“I’m trying to sign these players, but if it doesn’t work out I might have to make some tough decisions and trade them,” Verbeek told season-ticket holders during an event at Honda Center. “I’d be worried if they walked out the door without getting anything in return. I wouldn’t be doing my job well if I let that happen. We’re going to do our best to get it done and, if not, we’ll have to go in another direction.”

Verbeek indicated discussions with Lindholm’s agent, Claude Lemieux, were ongoing. He didn’t reveal specifics or address the other two potential unrestricted free agents by name. In addition to those three, Sam Carrick, Nicolas Deslauriers and Ryan Getzlaf also can become unrestricted free agents.

Getzlaf, 36, re-signed with the Ducks last summer, agreeing to a one-season, $3-million contract in part, he said, because he didn’t like the way the pandemic-altered, 2020-21 season ended. The Ducks won only 17 of 56 games and finished in second-to-last place in the NHL’s overall standings.

It’s possible Getzlaf could call it a career at the end of this season, with the Ducks on an upward trajectory again, having won nine more games through 56 games than they did last season and hanging close in a compelling playoff race in the Pacific Division. If Getzlaf re-signs, it’ll likely be with the Ducks.

Lindholm, 28, could fetch a great deal in return if Verbeek is unable to re-sign him. He’s become a pillar in the Ducks’ defense corps in recent seasons, growing up within the organization that selected him in the first round (sixth overall) in 2012. He’s played 576 games in the NHL.

Plus, Lindholm has served as a mentor and landlord to rookie defenseman Jamie Drysdale, 19, who moved into his Orange County home earlier this season.

However, Lindholm could be expensive to re-sign. He’s likely due for a raise from the $5.2 million he’s making in the final season of the six-year, $31.5-million contract extension he signed Oct. 27, 2016. The Ducks do have plenty of salary-cap space this season and in those to come, though.

Manson, 30, is in the final season of a four-year, $16.4-million contract that carries a modified no-movement clause, according to the website capfriendly.com. Manson has been sidelined for the past 10 games because of a finger injury and there’s no timetable for his return to the lineup.

Rakell, 28, is a relative bargain with a $3.8-million salary in the last year of his six-year, $22.8-million deal. He is tied for second among the Ducks with rookie center Trevor Zegras with 15 goals this season and is their seventh-leading scorer with 27 points in 47 games.

GIBSON INJURED

Goaltender John Gibson departed practice early because of an apparent hand injury suffered during drills and with season-ticket holders in attendance at Honda Center. Gibson left the ice shaking his right hand about 15 minutes into the 30-minute workout and didn’t return.

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A team spokesman said Gibson was being evaluated, but didn’t have anything further to report. He said Gibson would be evaluated again Sunday, before the Ducks played host to the San Jose Sharks in the finale of their six-game homestand, their longest of the season.

Anthony Stolarz could start in Gibson’s place if Gibson isn’t sound enough to play Sunday. Lukas Dostal could be recalled from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL to serve as Stolarz’s backup. Dostal was with the Gulls in Loveland, Colorado, for Saturday’s game against the Colorado Eagles.

San Jose at Ducks

When: 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Honda Center

TV: Bally Sports West