Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf announced Tuesday that he will retire from the NHL following the conclusion of this season.
Getzlaf, 36, has played his entire 17-year career with Anaheim. He is the Ducks’ all-time leading scorer in both the regular season and playoffs.
“It’s been an honor to play in the NHL and spend my entire professional career with one organization,” Getzlaf said. “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.”
Getzlaf, who is nursing a lower-body injury, hopes to play in a few more games this season — including the Ducks’ final home game on April 24 against the St. Louis Blues. Anaheim (28-31-12, 68 points) has 11 games remaining on its schedule and is almost assured of a fourth consecutive non-playoff season.
Getzlaf is the Ducks’ all-time leader in games played (1,150), assists (731) and points (1,013). He has recorded 31 points (three goals, 28 assists) in 49 games this season.
Getzlaf holds franchise records in postseason goals (37), assists (83) and points (120) in 125 career games. He led the 2007 Stanley Cup team in postseason scoring with 17 points, and also set a franchise record for most points in a single playoff season in 2015 with 20.
The 19th overall pick of the 2003 NHL Draft by the then-Mighty Ducks, Getzlaf has served as the captain of Anaheim since 2010-11.
“We are so proud of everything Ryan has accomplished in an amazing 17 years playing for the Ducks,” team owners Henry and Susan Samueli said in a release. “While we will all remember his leadership qualities on the ice, it is his community-first approach that has cemented his legacy in Orange County. In addition to spearheading the Ducks Learn to Play Program and numerous other organizational charitable initiatives, he launched his own such event with the Annual Getzlaf Shootout to benefit CureDuchenne, raising over $4.27 million to date.
“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.”
–Field Level Media