Anaheim Ducks

Ryan Getzlaf Will Retire from NHL at End of 2021-22 Season

Ryan Getzlaf is retiring from the NHL at the end of the season and released a statement thanking everyone involved in his career.

by
NHL Trade Talk
April 5, 2022

Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf, the organization’s all-time leading scorer, will retire at the end of the season. Getzlaf made the announcement on Tuesday and released a statement for fans and the media to go along with the announcement.

Getzlaf wrote:

“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.”

Getzlaf also thanked the general managers, coaches, support staff, teammates, and fans. He noted that playing for the team and living in Orange County has been a dream.

Getzlaf’s career spanned 17 seasons and included both a Stanley Cup championship and two Olympic gold medals. He will join Daniel and Henrik Sedin as the only players to exclusively play for one team in the 21st century. He is the first one-team player in Anaheim history to play at least 10 seasons.

The Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli also released a statement and noted:

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.

Getzlaf Was One of the Greats

His name might not get mentioned in the same breath as some of the best to ever play, but it’s hard not to see the impact he made on the league during his 17 years. He won World junior gold, two Olympic gold medals, and a Stanley Cup. There are Hall of Fame players who haven’t had the same type of career success.

At times — such as the 2009 playoffs — he played the game as good as anyone. He has scored 1,013 points in 1,150 games since his NHL debut in October 2005.

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