Getzlaf to retire after 17 seasons with Ducks
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Ryan Getzlaf didn’t want to wait until his body broke down or his willpower waned. The Anaheim Ducks’ longtime captain also wanted to start the next chapter of his life on his own schedule.
With his parents, his wife and their four children by his side, Getzlaf felt confident he’s finally ready to glide into life after the NHL.
“I’ve always said I was going to let my body and mind dictate when I was going to retire,” the 36-year-old Getzlaf said Tuesday while announcing his decision to retire at the conclusion of the season after a 17-year career spent entirely with the Ducks. “I remember talking to my buddies when I first came in the league, and I thought that was going to be at about 26,” he added with a laugh. “Definitely over-lasted what I thought I would. The grind of the everyday, getting up, the preparation for each season, gets harder and harder as you get older.”
Getzlaf teared up several times during a news conference at Honda Center attended by dozens of his friends, family members and both current and former teammates. Getzlaf wasn’t surprised to see his wife, Paige, but was shocked to see his parents and children, who kept their attendance a secret.
“I’ve created an atmosphere around me of support, a loving family that I’d like to go home to,” Getzlaf said. “Kids that I’d like to grow up playing with, not watching play. That was a (reason) for me to step away from the game before those things happen.”
Getzlaf has been one of the top playmaking centers in hockey for most of his career, scoring 1,013 points in 1,150 games since his NHL debut in October 2005 with the then-Mighty Ducks. A sublime passer with remarkable vision on the ice and a graceful ease with the puck, he became Anaheim’s career franchise scoring leader last Oct. 31, and he became the 92nd player in league history to score 1,000 points on Nov. 16.
Getzlaf is still a solid NHL player, and he wants to leave while that’s still the case. Although he’s been dogged by injuries this season, he says he’s still got “a fairly healthy body for an athlete, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“It was very important to not be pushed out, so to speak,” Getzlaf added. “I never want to be part of a situation where you’re playing it out and people are doing you favors. You never want people to want you to leave.”
Despite missing 22 games with various injuries this season, Getzlaf is tied for fourth on the Ducks’ roster in scoring with three goals and 28 assists. He has at least 25 assists for the 16th time in his 17 seasons even though he sat out most of the past month with a lower-body injury.
Getzlaf also leads the Ducks in career games played, assists (731) and playoff scoring. He has been Anaheim’s captain for the past 12 seasons, presiding over a lengthy period of sustained team success before their current struggles.
He is a Stanley Cup champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist for Canada, a three-time NHL All-Star and the runner-up for the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP in 2014.
The Ducks (28-31-12) have 11 games left in what’s almost certain to be their fourth consecutive non-playoff season, but Getzlaf has remained a beloved figure among Orange County fans who adore his playmaking abilities and revere his loyalty to their often-overlooked club.