Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf announces retirement after 17 seasons

Somehow, we all knew it was coming sooner rather than later. But I’m not sure anything can really prepare you for when it finally happens.

On Tuesday, April 5th, Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf officially announced his retirement after 17 seasons in the NHL, all with the team that drafted him. Getzlaf will hang up his skates at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.

Getzlaf will finish his career as an exceptionally rare type of player. Spending an entire lengthy career with just one team is rare enough, but Getzlaf is also just the 11th player in NHL history to captain the same team for 10+ years and score more than 1000 points. He is the longest serving captain in Ducks history, holding the role for 12 seasons.

Getzlaf will retire with an impressive resume that will likely land him in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Stanley Cup Champion, two Olympic gold medals, and a three-time NHL All Star. He ranks first in games played (1150), fourth in goals (282), first in assists (731), and first in points (1013) for the Anaheim Ducks franchise.

Getzlaf will also go down as one of the top 100 players in NHL history, ranking 88th all time in points and 51st in assists. Add on his international record and his Stanley Cup Championship, and you have a career only a select few people in the hockey world have achieved.

In a statement, Getzlaf said, “"It's been an honor to play in the NHL and spend my entire professional career with one organization. None of this would have been possible without my family, who offered unwavering love and support each step of the way. Thank you to our owners, Henry and Susan Samueli, for leading an organization committed to success on the ice, but more importantly, to making a positive impact in our community and to those in need. A special thanks to the general managers, coaches, support staff, teammates, and of course, our fans. Playing for the Ducks and living in Orange County is a dream for an athlete, and much of that is because of you. Thank you all."

Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli added their thoughts, with more likely to come at a press conference scheduled for 12 PM Pacific today.

“Congratulations, Ryan. You've been our leader, our soul and our captain, leaving an indelible mark on our franchise that Ducks fans around the world will never forget."