Ryan Getzlaf

Lore & Background

Getzlaf was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, and grew up in an athletically minded family; his older brother Chris played football for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Ryan played tailback in football and represented Saskatchewan as a catcher in a national youth baseball tournament, but focused on hockey from age five. He attended Robert Usher Collegiate in Regina. As a junior, Getzlaf played four seasons with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League, was twice named to a WHL all-star team, and was drafted 54th overall in the 2000 WHL Bantam Draft. He stood 5 feet at the time of the draft but grew 6 inches by the time he joined the team. In his fourth junior season, Getzlaf was named team captain, briefly stripped of the title after earning several misconduct penalties for arguing with officials, then restored after a couple weeks. He missed time that season due to a concussion from a hit by Dion Phaneuf. Getzlaf made his professional debut with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey League during the 2005 playoffs.

Reader's Guide

Getzlaf's significance to the Anaheim Ducks is defined by his status as the franchise's all-time leader in games played, assists, and points, as well as the all-time playoff leader in goals, assists, and points. He led the Ducks in assists twelve times, including a franchise-record 66 in 2008–09, and in points eight times. A playmaker and power forward, Getzlaf was a first-round selection, 19th overall, at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He played in three NHL All-Star Games and was a member of the Ducks' 2007 Stanley Cup championship team, where at age 22 he formed part of the 'kid line' with Corey Perry and Dustin Penner and led the Ducks in postseason scoring with 17 points. Getzlaf was named team captain prior to the 2010–11 season, succeeding Scott Niedermayer. He signed an eight-year contract extension in 2013 worth $66 million. Internationally, Getzlaf represented Canada on numerous occasions, winning gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 IIHF World Championship, and was a member of the 2005 World Junior Championship squad considered the greatest in Canadian history. After retiring, Getzlaf joined the NHL's Department of Player Safety in 2024.

Did You Know?

• Getzlaf is the Anaheim Ducks' all-time leader in games played, assists, and points.
• He recorded a franchise-record 66 assists in the 2008–09 season.