Ryan Getzlaf

Growing up in Regina, Ryan Getzlaf emerged as a top junior after joining the Calgary Hitmen as a 16-year-old; his play in the WHL earned him two all-star nods and leadership roles before the NHL draft. Ranked among the top North American skaters, he was taken 19th overall in 2003 by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and spent additional seasons in junior development prior to turning pro.

Getzlaf made his NHL debut in October 2005 and, after a short assignment to the AHL early on, became a fixture in Anaheim. He was a central piece of the Ducks’ young scoring lines and helped the club capture the 2007 Stanley Cup. Contract extensions followed, including a five-year deal before 2007–08 and an eight-year, $66 million extension signed on 8 March 2013.

Loyal to a single franchise for his entire career, Getzlaf was named team captain before the 2010–11 season and collected many milestones: his 500th NHL game came on 12 March 2012, his 500th point on 8 March 2013, his 1,000th game on 3 November 2019. He became Anaheim's all-time leading scorer on 31 October 2021 and reached 1,000 career points on 16 November 2021. He announced his retirement on 5 April 2022 and played his final home game on 24 April 2022, finishing with 282 goals, 737 assists and 1,018 points in 1,157 games.

Internationally, Getzlaf represented Canada across age levels and senior tournaments: he was part of the highly regarded 2005 World Junior team, won silver at the 2008 IIHF World Championship and earned Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014. On the ice he combined playmaking with a power-forward style—reliant on size and vision to set up teammates—and led the Ducks franchise in games played, assists and points, while also holding playoff scoring records.

His career included notable injuries and on-ice incidents, and he was shortlisted more than once for leadership awards. After retiring as a player, Getzlaf joined the NHL's Department of Player Safety in 2024.